RASC News Agency: Local Taliban officials in Panjshir province have announced the conclusion of a competition aimed at raising awareness about the “intellectual war against the West.” According to the Taliban, the event took place among students of the “Jihadi Madrassa” in Panjshir and concluded with the final round of exams on Tuesday, October 1st. The Directorate of Information and Culture of the Taliban in Panjshir, in collaboration with the provincial university, organized this competition to educate students about the perceived “intellectual conflict with the West.” Reports suggest that 500 university students and 200 madrassa students participated in the event.
Just days earlier, the Taliban hosted a similar contest in Kunduz, dubbed the “Emirate Knowledge Contest,” where a variety of prizes were awarded to winners. Observers argue that these competitions serve as part of the Taliban’s propaganda strategy, enticing young people with promises of rewards in order to encourage participation. Since retaking power, the group has repeatedly organized such contests across several provinces, covering topics like “Emirate Studies,” “Western Ideology,” “Satanism,” and the relationship between the Islamic Emirate and Jihad, with incentives provided for winners.
Over the last three years, Taliban officials have frequently warned about the West’s “intellectual warfare” against the group, stressing the need to focus on countering this threat. Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, previously stated that the West, having been defeated militarily, has now shifted to an intellectual confrontation with the Taliban. This approach reflects a broader strategy by the group to consolidate power by shaping educational and ideological narratives, focusing on combating what they describe as the cultural and intellectual influence of Western powers.
