The Taliban authorities in Balkh have arrested Hameed Ansari, head of the Northern Youth for Peace organization, for allegedly carrying out projects with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) without coordinating with the provincial Department of Economy, local sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The Northern Youth for Peace has been active since before the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, conducting awareness campaigns on peace and civic engagement in Balkh, Samangan, Jawzjan, and Faryab provinces. The organization has received support through UNAMA-affiliated initiatives, according to people familiar with its activities.
Sources said the Taliban’s Department of Economy in Balkh accused the group of bypassing official coordination channels and continuing UN-backed projects without formal approval. Officials reportedly described the organization’s project reports as “incomplete and disorganized” and raised concerns over a lack of transparency regarding budgets and funding.
Ansari remains in Taliban custody, and there has been no official public statement from the Taliban authorities in Balkh regarding his arrest.
