Taliban intelligence forces have begun detaining protesters in Chah Ab district in northeastern province of Takhar, following weeks of unrest linked to gold mining activities, local sources told Amu TV on Wednesday.
The sources said at least three men – identified as Mohammad Amin, Mohammad Hashem and Qarah Khan – were detained over the past week from different villages in the district.
Local elders have sought talks with Taliban officials to secure the detainees’ release, the sources said, but their whereabouts and condition remain unclear.
The Taliban have not commented publicly on the reported arrests.
Protests in Chah Ab erupted in mid-December over gold mining operations in the district and continued for several days, at times turning violent. At least five people were killed and 16 wounded during clashes, according to local residents and earlier reports.
Residents say mining has proceeded without delivering basic services to the local population. They have demanded infrastructure development, including road repairs, electricity supply and other essential services, in return for the extraction of natural resources.
Disputes over mining rights and revenue-sharing have surfaced in several parts of Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, as local communities complain of exclusion from decision-making and limited economic benefits from resource projects.
The Taliban say mining is vital for boosting state revenues, but analysts warn that a lack of transparency and local consultation risks fuelling further unrest in resource-rich areas.
