Taliban Increase Security Presence and Operations in Panjshir

Taliban forces have increased their security presence and operations in Panjshir province following the publication of two videos showing anti-Taliban activities.

One video, released by the Green Process group affiliated with Amrullah Saleh, showed an attack on a Taliban vehicle in the Abdullah Khil valley. The group claimed the vehicle was transferring forces to a base in Manjanistu. A second video, attributed to a senior anti-Taliban commander, showed armed individuals sacrificing a sheep during Eid al-Adha.

In response, the Taliban have deployed additional forces at key points, resumed search operations in the foothills, established new checkpoints and imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. Residents were instructed not to leave their homes after that time.

Panjshir has remained a center of armed resistance since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, resulting in repeated deployments, checkpoints, house-to-house operations, arrests and movement restrictions. International human rights institutions have reported that residents face arbitrary arrests, torture, mistreatment, movement restrictions and collective punishments.