RASC News Agency: Local sources in Panjshir have confirmed that armed robbers stole $8,000 in cash from a teacher in the province. According to reports, the teacher, who also trades in emeralds, regularly traveled to the mines in Panjshir, particularly on Fridays. This incident underscores the Taliban’s control over emerald trade in the region. The group has prohibited independent traders and miners from buying or selling emeralds, reserving the lucrative trade for themselves. In recent months, the Taliban have arrested and imprisoned dozens of individuals in Safedchehr and Khenj on charges of unauthorized emerald trading.
Sources disclosed on Saturday, January 6, that the robbery took place four nights prior in the Qalat Mokoni Safedchehr area of Hisa-e-Awal district, an area known for its emerald mines and frequented by miners and traders. The victim, identified as Sayed Jamaluddin, is a teacher at Safedchehr Boys’ High School and an active emerald trader in Panjshir. While the perpetrators of the robbery have not been conclusively identified, local residents suspect Taliban fighters from Helmand province of orchestrating the theft. Given the Taliban’s extensive presence across Panjshir, sources noted that it is unlikely for unauthorized armed groups to operate freely in the area.
Following the incident, Taliban intelligence forces in Panjshir reportedly revoked the work permits of several miners and issued warnings, instructing them to locate and identify the culprits. This armed robbery comes despite the Taliban’s establishment of over 1,000 security checkpoints and widespread deployment of fighters across Panjshir over the past three years. Residents have repeatedly reported harassment and mistreatment by Taliban forces stationed in the province, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the local population under their rule.
