The Herat-Kabul highway in western Afghanistan was closed due to a conflict between farmers from Farah province and local Taliban officials.
Farmers in the Bala Buluk district of Farah claimed the Taliban district governor had personal issues with locals and had attacked farmers. Consequently, these farmers have criticized the Taliban’s local authorities, leading to the closure of the Herat-Kabul highway to both people and commercial vehicles in protest.
Reports indicate that Taliban forces in Bala Buluk district fired upon two farmers.
“We don’t want the governor or the district governor; they all make one-sided deals. In the last twenty years, our children were sacrificed for the Taliban, but they oppress us,” Amrullah, a Farah resident, stated.
The protesters are demanding the removal of all local Taliban officials in Farah, particularly in Bala Buluk district.
A backlog of cargo and passenger vehicles has formed, awaiting the reopening of the road. Those trapped have voiced that the Taliban are oppressing people in the province.
“We don’t accept any of the local officials of Farah province; we don’t even seek the assistance of Mullah Hibatullah and Mullah Hassan Akhund,” Rahmatullah, another Farah resident, expressed.
The Taliban have yet to comment on the situation, and the district governor of Bala Buluk has not responded to inquiries from AMU.
