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QALA-E-NAU (SW) – Locals in Badghes claim the Taliban rebels are earning millions of dollars’ worth of black money via the pistachio forests in the province.
Abdullah Afzali, deputy chairman of the provincial council, told Salam Watandar the rebels are buying arms and ammunition through their earnings form these forests. He said these forests were previously under the control of the government and local people, and the state was receiving hefty revenue, but now the rebels are not allowing the locals to fetch the pistachio from these forests.
He lamented repeated calls for a special security force for these forests have fallen on deaf ears.
In views of the locals, the Taliban have gained clout here due to the lucrative income from these forests.
Meanwhile, Jamshed Shahabi, spokesman for the provincial governor, has also acknowledged that the Taliban are earning from these forests. He, however, stressed, the provincial administration is striving hard to force the rebels out of the area.
The pistachio farms in Badghes are located at a distance of 15 kilomters from the provincial capital, Qala-e-Nau, and close to the Herat province. According to the officials, some 30,000 hectors of land is covered here with pistachio forests.
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