RASC News Agency: Michael Semple, the former Deputy Representative of the European Union to Afghanistan, asserts that the Taliban are exploiting Uzbeks as mere tools and “cannon fodder.” According to Semple, several prominent Uzbek figures within the Taliban are increasingly dissatisfied and are exploring the possibility of forming an independent faction. On Monday September 23, Semple remarked that the Taliban use Turkic-speaking groups, particularly Uzbeks, as tokens to reinforce their narrative of being an “inclusive” regime. However, he emphasized that Uzbeks hold no significant role in the Taliban’s strategic decision-making.
“The Taliban grant no privileges to the Uzbeks, offer them no power-sharing opportunities, and do not recognize their importance. At present, Uzbeks have only a symbolic presence within the Taliban regime,” Semple stated. Earlier this year, the Middle East Research Institute released a report on the representation of non-Pashtun ethnic groups in the Taliban government, noting that Tajiks make up 5%, Uzbeks 3%, and Hazaras a mere 0.5% of the leadership. Out of 1,137 senior Taliban officials, 891 are Pashtun, 53 are Tajik, 28 are Uzbek, and 6 are Hazara.
Semple also highlighted that, over the past three years, numerous Uzbek Taliban members have been removed from their posts, forcibly evicted from their homes, and in some instances, arrested and imprisoned. In late September, Salahuddin Ayubi, an influential Uzbek commander in Zabul, confirmed his resignation from cooperating with the Taliban government.
Semple contends that the Taliban leadership is fully aware of the mounting discontent among Uzbeks and fears their potential alignment with opposition forces. However, rather than addressing their concerns through social justice measures, the Taliban have intensified their repression of the Uzbeks. Semple further noted the Taliban’s fear of the emergence of “pockets of power,” and the group’s anxiety over potential uprisings against the central government. He cautioned that if the Taliban fail to placate the Uzbeks, over time, “the regime’s grip on power will significantly weaken.” He asserted that Uzbeks will either establish an independent force or align with other opposition factions.
