Taliban authorities in Badakhshan have confirmed that at least two residents of Argo district were killed following clashes with Taliban forces.
According to the Taliban police command in Badakhshan, the confrontation began after a counter-narcotics unit was deployed to the village of Atan-Jelo in Argo district to destroy poppy fields.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Taliban police spokesperson claimed that a number of local farmers and residents, allegedly “incited by criminals and drug traffickers,” attempted to prevent the destruction of the fields.
He stated that one child was killed on Friday during the unrest and another person died on Saturday, 19 Sawr, amid ongoing protests and clashes.
Taliban authorities said the situation in the area is now under their control.
However, local sources reported that protests and tensions between residents and Taliban forces are continuing in parts of Argo district.
Community members told Nimruz TV that the two local residents were killed by Taliban gunfire during the confrontation.
Videos received by Nimruz TV from the area also appear to show continuing protests by local residents against Taliban forces.
Badakhshan has repeatedly witnessed tensions in recent years over poppy eradication campaigns, with anti-drug operations at times leading to violent confrontations between local communities and Taliban authorities.
The incident highlights the broader challenge facing Taliban anti-narcotics policies in rural Afghanistan, where many communities remain economically dependent on poppy cultivation for survival.
