SECURITY — March 29, 2026
Head of Nooristan Elites Institution Criticizes Taliban Over Blocked Roads, Insufficient Aid
Transportation routes in Nooristan province are blocked, with the Taliban airlifting insufficient aid amid criticism from the head of the local Elites Institution that the group lacks the ability to reopen them. Disagreements persist over the cause, with the Taliban blaming snowfall and locals citing Pakistani rocket attacks.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
Transportation routes in Nooristan province remain blocked, limiting access and complicating aid delivery to the area.
Mr. Noorstani, head of the Nooristan Elites Institution, stated that the Taliban lacks the ability to reopen these routes and does not permit residents to publicly complain about the problems. He noted that the Taliban is airlifting vital aid to the province, but it reaches only a small number of people and remains insufficient.
Noorstani cited images and local sources claiming that Pakistan has seized a strategic point in Nooristan and aims to prolong the war via routes through Khost and Nooristan.
The Taliban attributes the blockages to natural factors such as heavy snowfall. Local sources, however, have previously attributed the closures to Pakistani rocket attacks.
Separately, the Taliban Ministry for Promotion of Virtue announced that tribal elders and residents from Nooristan met with Khalid Hanafi in Kabul, demanding the quick reopening of the routes.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source with direct on-record attribution from named figure Mr. Noorstani (Head of Nooristan Elites Institution) in an interview, Taliban ministry statement naming Khalid Hanafi, and prior local sources; core event of route blockage acknowledged even by Taliban.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "Taliban lacks the ability to reopen" (direct criticism of incompetence); "Pakistan... wants to prolong the war" (accusatory attribution of malicious intent); these present sourced opinions with emotional advocacy framing.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
- Afghanistan’s Nuristan Residents Demand Reopening of Roads Blocked by Pakistan - Khaama Presskhaama.com
According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, participants in the meeting asked for immediate attention to their problems, especially the reopening of transport routes linking the isolated districts to the rest of the province.
- Residents Urge Government to Stop Pakistani Militia Attacks in Nuristan - شمشاد نیوزshamshadnews.com
With the reopening of the Paprook route, residents of these districts will temporarily be able to connect to Parun, the provincial center of Nuristan. However, they stress that Pakistani militias must be restrained so that the main routes of Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal can be fully reopened. Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal are among the districts whose transportation routes have been under attack by Pakistan’s military regime since the beginning of the conflict, with residents often denied safe passage.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Afghanistan International
Originating
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Security — Nooristan, Taliban, Pakistan, Khalid Hanafi, Nooristan Elites Institution
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