RASC News Agency: Sources from Ghor province in western Afghanistan report that Tajik members of the Taliban have no authority compared to other members of the group. A reliable source in Ghor province, speaking on condition of anonymity to RASC News Agency on Friday, Apr 19, confirmed that Tajik members of the Taliban have no authority in the province, and their numbers are decreasing daily.
The source added that most Tajik Taliban members have left the group due to neglect from the group’s leadership and have traveled to Iran for work. According to the source, only a limited number of Tajik Taliban members remain in Ghor province alongside Pashtun Taliban members, and they are considering fleeing due to neglect from senior group officials. Another source in western Afghanistan confirms that a significant portion of Tajik and Uzbek Taliban members are leaving the group due to a lack of salaries.
The source explains, “On one hand, the indifference and neglect of Pashtun Taliban leaders toward other ethnic Taliban members in Afghanistan, and on the other hand, the lack of financial benefits for non-Pashtun Taliban, are among the issues they have endured over the past few years.” The source added that the Pashtun Taliban currently hold power and prioritize themselves and their close associates, but in the future, when this regime is no longer in power, they may have to rely on the non-Pashtun Taliban members. Meanwhile, several residents of Ghor province confirm that the majority of urban forces in the province consist of Pashtun Taliban members.
Rahmat, a resident of Ghor province, told RASC News Agency that Tajik Taliban members are rarely seen in the city; most of the Taliban present are Pashtun and control the city. He stated that Tajik and Uzbek Taliban members have been sent to remote districts by Pashtun Taliban officials based on public reports.
However, Ehsan Khwajazada, a political analyst in western Afghanistan, told RASC News Agency, “Pashtun Taliban members lack effective communication and coordination among themselves, preventing them from showing respect toward each other.” He explains that in this situation, non-Pashtun Taliban members should not expect attention or respect from senior Pashtun Taliban officials.
He clarifies that the Taliban’s high-ranking leaders and officials currently focus on their own interests and have little accurate information about their subordinates. Taliban officials, however, deny these reports and claim that unity and solidarity among the group’s officials remain strong.
