At least eight civilians, including a young girl and a woman, have been killed, 27 wounded, and 37 arrested in Badakhshan’s Khash district following a brutal crackdown by Taliban forces in response to protests over poppy field destruction.
Local sources told media that the violence erupted on June 30, when Taliban units arrived in the district to destroy poppy crops as part of an eradication campaign. The move triggered fierce resistance from local residents, leading to deadly confrontations between armed fighters and unarmed civilians.
Medical officials at a local hospital confirmed that six people were killed on Monday and two more succumbed to injuries on Tuesday. The condition of several injured remains critical.
Arrests Target Elders and Protest Leaders
In the days following the unrest, at least 37 individuals have been detained by Taliban forces, most of them described by local sources as village elders, tribal representatives, or protest leaders. Witnesses reported that detainees were flown by helicopter to Faizabad, the provincial capital, raising concerns of further reprisals.
The market in Khash remains shut down, and residents describe an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, with Taliban fighters reportedly harassing civilians and enforcing tight restrictions on movement.
No official Taliban statement has been issued so far regarding the arrests or the deadly use of force against protesters.
Taliban Acknowledges Deaths, Labels Them ‘Accidental’
Taliban-appointed governor of Badakhshan, Mohammad Ayub Khalid, admitted to the civilian deaths in an interview with an international media outlet but claimed they resulted from “accidental fire” during the unrest. He also confirmed that Taliban special forces were deployed to suppress the protests.
However, local sources strongly dispute this version, pointing to the intentional use of live fire against demonstrators and reports of direct targeting of individuals leading the protest.
Recurring Clashes Over Poppy Eradication
This incident marks one of the most serious episodes of unrest in Badakhshan since the Taliban regained control in 2021. The province has seen repeated tensions over poppy eradication, with similar confrontations reported last year in Jurm district.
Despite the Taliban’s claim to enforce a nationwide drug ban, the Afghanistan Analysts Network recently reported widespread failures in implementation, particularly in Badakhshan, where some Taliban commanders are allegedly reluctant to enforce the ban due to local economic dependencies and internal dissent.
Farmers have responded by resorting to covert cultivation methods: planting poppies in remote valleys, intercropping with other plants, and using land-leasing arrangements to hide ownership and escape detection.
Escalating Tensions and a Fractured Social Contract
The situation in Khash reflects deepening public resentment toward Taliban governance, particularly in rural provinces where economic survival and autonomy are under direct threat. The Taliban’s use of force against civilians and traditional community leaders may further erode their legitimacy and provoke wider unrest across Badakhshan and beyond.
Human rights observers have condemned the use of violence and arbitrary arrests, warning that collective punishment of communities will only inflame grievances and widen the gap between rulers and the ruled.
As of now, Khash remains tense, its streets largely empty, and its people silenced, not by peace, but by fear.
