PANJSHIR — Taliban have detained at least 20 residents of a village in the central province of Panjshir following an explosion at a Taliban military post, local sources told Amu TV on Saturday.
The arrests took place in the village of Tankhoy, located in the Darah district of Panjshir, a region known for its historic resistance to Taliban rule.
According to residents, the explosion occurred on Friday, May 16, inside a residential home that had been converted into a Taliban military outpost more than three years ago. The house reportedly belonged to former commander Akram, whose family was forcibly displaced after the Taliban seized control of the area. Commander Akram was later detained and transferred to Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul, the sources said.
Though exact casualty figures remain unclear, local sources reported that several Taliban fighters were killed or injured in the blast.
The anti-Taliban National Resistance Front (NRF), led by Ahmad Massoud, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that its fighters had targeted the Taliban outpost, resulting in 17 casualties among the group’s ranks.
Taliban have not commented publicly on the incident or the subsequent detentions.
The arrests have stoked fears of collective punishment in a region where Taliban security operations have previously drawn criticism from rights groups. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have faced sporadic armed resistance in parts of Panjshir, prompting regular military sweeps and arrests in the province.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over arbitrary detentions and the use of civilian homes for military purposes, warning that such practices may violate international humanitarian law.
