RASC News Agency: Local sources in Farah Province, western Afghanistan, report that nearly half of the Taliban forces in the region are composed of underage individuals. A local source in Farah, requesting anonymity, informed RASC News Agency on Tuesday, May 28th, that these individuals are between the ages of 15 and 18 and have been integrated into both security and non-security roles within the Taliban.
According to the source, Taliban leaders are encouraging their family members and other youths to join the group in the name of “jihad.” The source added that the Taliban are aggressively recruiting teenagers and young adults by any means necessary to bolster their ranks. Another anonymous source told RASC News Agency that the Taliban are currently losing local forces due to various personal issues, resulting in a steady decline in their numbers.
Based on the information from the source, thousands of Taliban forces should be present in the security organs of Farah Province, but the actual number may be fewer than 500. The source continued, explaining that the lack of salaries, mistreatment, ethnic discrimination, corruption, and moral decay are among the issues causing many young members to abandon the group.
Additionally, Pouya Rostami, a civil activist in western Afghanistan, confirmed that several senior Taliban officials have tarnished the group’s reputation, leading even high-ranking members to express regret and concern over their presence. He noted that these problematic individuals hold official positions within the Taliban across various provinces, frequently causing issues for both the local population and the group’s leadership with their misconduct.
Attempts to contact Taliban officials in Farah Province for comment were unsuccessful. However, reports indicate that some Taliban officials are themselves deeply involved in various crimes and corrupt practices, yet face no repercussions or trials.
