FARAH CITY (SW): Officials in Farah have said the Taliban are practically running a self-styled customs office in the province’s Pusht Koh district for the past six months.
Hakeem Noor, governor of the district, informed Salam Watandar that the Taliban are imposing customs tariff on up to 300 vehicles on daily basis resulting in revenues in up to AFN 12 million. He lamented that the issue has been discussed with the local and Kabul government, but to no avail.
Jameela Amini, member of the provincial council, has also confirmed this. She said that the Taliban charge a large vehicle with up to AFN 15000 each. She added that the Farah governor has told the transporters to resolve this crisis on their own with the Taliban.
The PC member informed that the Taliban used to collect higher tariffs of up to AFN 40,000, but after mediation of the local elders, they have settled for a lower tariff of AFN 8000 to AFN 15000 now. Jameela Amini informed that the place where the Taliban’s self-styled customs office is functioning previously had three security check posts that are no more after repeated assaults by the Taliban.
The Taliban have reportedly warned the transporters about a rise in tariff in the future.
Meanwhile, Nasir Mehri, spokesman for the provincial governor, has only acknowledged that the Taliban do collect cash from the transporters, but he rejected reports about dismantling of security check posts there. He said additional check posts and clean-up operation are needed to address the issue. Nasir Mehri informed that the Kabul government has been informed about it.
The Taliban have not commented on this matter.
ENDS
