RASC News Agency: Several homeowners in Kabul have expressed frustration over ethnic harassment, stating that some Pashtun tenants are using the Taliban’s name to wield undue influence. These homeowners report that when they rent or lease their properties to Pashtun tenants for a specified period, the tenants often refuse to vacate at the end of the agreement. When confronted, they claim, “We are Pashtuns, and this is our land.”
Abdul Hakim, a resident of Kabul who owns property in Taimani, recounted his ordeal: “Four years ago, I leased my house to a Pashtun family from Logar. Now that I need the property, I offered to return their deposit and asked them to vacate. It has been four months, and they refuse to leave, saying, ‘Who are you to evict a Pashtun from their home?'” Abdul Hakim further explained that when he approached the local police for assistance, instead of helping him resolve the issue, the officers questioned, “Why don’t you speak Pashto?” He responded, “I am a Dari speaker from Kabul, where most people do not know your language.” The officials replied, “Learn Pashto first, and then come back to discuss your issue.”
He also mentioned that this same tenant was once an ardent supporter of the former president, Ashraf Ghani, and would frequently boast about his regime. Now, however, the tenant is leveraging the Taliban’s authority, using the name of the ‘Emirate’ to justify his refusal to vacate the property. Ahmad Fawad (a pseudonym), another resident from Khairkhana, shared a similar experience: “Sixteen months ago, I rented my apartment to a Pashtun tenant. For the past four months, he has neither paid rent nor vacated the premises.” He added that Taliban members often support these tenants, and complaints from those who do not speak Pashto are largely ignored.
These homeowners are increasingly concerned about the rising ethnic favoritism and misuse of authority under the Taliban, which leaves them with limited options to reclaim their rightful properties.
