GHOR (SW) – Officials in Ghor province believe the Taliban rebels are busy enlisting child soldiers from the religious seminaries in Ghor province.
The provincial council members and local residents told Salam Watandar the Taliban are particularly active in the western districts of the province to enlist child soldiers among their ranks. A number of residents in the restive western districts of Ghor said they sent their children to religious schools for education, but the Taliban are brainwashing them and exploiting their sentiments to enlist them as soldiers.
The locals said the Taliban are also compelling them to pay religious taxes.
Abdul Hameed Natiqi, a member of the provincial council, has echoed these concerns. He said the Taliban are using religious schools for their propaganda and enlisting purposes.
Meanwhile, provincial governor Abdul Hai Khatibi, has said no reports have been filed in this regard. He added the Taliban are involved in spreading negative propaganda for their benefits. He stressed the Taliban have no support in the province.
According to the Ghor residents, the Taliban are also hindering execution of development projects and running of schools in areas under their clout.
ENDS
