RASC News Agency: Multiple residents of Ghor province in western Afghanistan report that the civil registration office is sluggish in issuing ID cards and is unresponsive to the needs of the local population. A Ghor province resident, who requested anonymity, told RASC on Tuesday, May 7, that officials at the province’s civil registration office make people wait for days for minor tasks and fail to address residents’ challenges in obtaining ID cards.
The resident added that Taliban employees at the civil registration office prioritize urgent requests while covertly soliciting bribes for their services. According to the source, one reason the civil registration office operates so slowly is due to the corruption within the office. Another Ghor province resident informed RASC that it has been ten days since they started visiting the civil registration office to obtain an ID card, but they have yet to receive the necessary documentation.
The individual noted that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of others who have been waiting for weeks or even months to obtain their ID cards from the civil registration office in Ghor. They observed that those who receive their ID cards more quickly often have connections or influence, giving them an advantage. The resident noted that in all Taliban-controlled offices, without money or connections, tasks that should take a day can take months to complete.
Meanwhile, several petition writers in Ghor province confirm they draft more than 30 to 50 petitions daily for individuals seeking new ID cards. Karim Hakimi, one of the petition writers in Ghor province, told RASC that people often have to make repeated visits over several days to complete the process of obtaining their ID cards from the legal authorities.
He added that on some days, they only process requests from five or six applicants. Additionally, Arif Pedram, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, told RASC that the problems faced by the people have become increasingly severe. He explained that people are under immense pressure from all sides and find it difficult to voice their concerns.
Pedram stated that Ghor province, predominantly Tajik, is under the leadership of the Afghan/Pashtun Taliban, who maintain a condescending attitude toward this community. Pedram emphasized that the Taliban display a discriminatory approach in all their offices, often neglecting the concerns of non-Afghan/Pashtun individuals. Local Taliban authorities in Ghor province have not commented on the situation.
