Taliban Arrest Around 30 People in Ghor on Weapons and Opposition Charges

The Taliban have arrested around 30 people in Ghor province on charges of possessing weapons and maintaining links to opposing fronts.

Five of those detained are relatives of Mohammad Zarif Azad, a former Jamiat-e-Islami member and National Security Directorate official who now lives outside Afghanistan. Azad confirmed the arrests took place but said no information has been released about the detainees' fate or current location.

Azad stated that Taliban members have repeatedly arrested and tortured his family members since 2021, including multiple detentions of his 69-year-old father. He said authorities demanded money and weapons in exchange for releases during these incidents.

Azad also reported that Taliban forces set fire to his family home in Ghor and later destroyed the property. Images showing severe damage to the house have been shared publicly.

A local source described the operation as political pressure and vengeful treatment rather than a judicial process. The Taliban have not issued any official statement on the arrests.