RASC News Agency: In the province of Panjshir, local sources reveal that the Taliban faction operating in the “Dara” district has wantonly felled trees and decimated forests, using them to sustain their encampments. Reports emanating from the Dara district in Panjshir province on Wednesday, December 13th, have informed the media that the commanding forces of the Taliban security apparatus in this district have been indiscriminately cutting down both productive and non-productive trees in the villages of “Keraman” and “Bazgaran,” utilizing the timber as a primary source of fuel.
Sources further emphasize that the predominant targets of the Taliban forces’ logging activities are the branches of “Mulberry” and “Walnut” trees. According to these sources, the group’s forces have displayed no regard for the protests voiced by the local residents. Meanwhile, the Taliban security command in the Dara district of Panjshir has acknowledged the deforestation but refrained from commenting on the felling of both productive and non-productive trees belonging to the local populace. This transpires as the Taliban has previously undertaken various actions, including the deforestation of trees and forests in diverse provinces like Takhar, exploiting the proceeds for personal gain.
It is crucial to note that since their assumption of control over the country, the Taliban has encountered severe economic challenges. According to reports, the group has, in numerous instances, utilized the nation’s assets, encompassing mines and forests, for illicit gains. Despite the Taliban frequently disclosing multimillion-dollar revenues from various sectors, the allocation and expenditure of these revenues remain unclear. Recent reports underscore that the Taliban, in an alarming trend, has been systematically logging national forests, a valuable asset, and engaging in the illicit smuggling of timber for financial gain.
