Protests in the Khash district of northeastern Badakhshan Province over the Taliban’s poppy eradication campaign entered a third consecutive day on Wednesday, following a deadly crackdown that has left at least 15 people dead, including one woman, and wounded nearly 60 others, according to local sources.
The unrest erupted earlier this week after local residents attempted to stop Taliban from destroying poppy fields, a major source of livelihood in the remote district. Taliban responded with gunfire, witnesses said, triggering some of the deadliest clashes between civilians and the group in recent months.
A resident wounded in the attack, speaking from a hospital bed in a video shared with Amu TV, declared he was prepared to die, claiming he had “nothing left” after the Taliban’s actions.
The Taliban governor of Badakhshan confirmed to local media that clashes had occurred between security forces and demonstrators, but Taliban have not issued a formal statement. Sources said protesters have so far rejected offers of negotiations, demanding an end to what they describe as selective and punitive enforcement of the Taliban’s poppy ban.
Locals argue that the ban is being enforced disproportionately. “We will not allow our fields to be destroyed unless the ban is applied equally — especially in provinces like Kandahar and Helmand,” one protester told Amu.
In response to the unrest, Taliban have sealed off all roads leading to Khash and cut telecommunications networks in the area. Sources said Taliban are attempting to force compliance with its poppy eradication order by isolating the district.
“The siege is tightening,” one resident said. “They’re using hunger and silence as weapons.”
Clashes over poppy eradication are not new to Badakhshan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the province has seen repeated tensions between local communities and Taliban authorities. Similar confrontations in the Jurm district last year also led to casualties and arrests.
