Taliban in Nimruz province have announced the transfer of the provincial capital from the city of Zaranj to the Ghorghori region in the Delaram district. The relocation of the Nimruz province center to Delaram has been designed by Taliban leadership. This Taliban move has faced widespread opposition from tribal elders, intellectuals, youth, and the majority of the province’s population. They accuse the Taliban of ethnic discrimination and emphasize that hidden ethnic goals are embedded in this plan.
Najibullah Rafi, the Taliban governor in Nimruz province, stated in a meeting with tribal elders of the province that due to water scarcity, proximity to the Iranian border, and the lack of environment for urban development, the center of this province will be moved to the Ghorghori region in the Delaram district.
Simultaneously with these statements, residents of Nimruz province, with sharp reactions, have expressed their opposition to the Taliban’s decision. They argue that the Taliban have taken this decision based on ethnic discrimination.
These concerns arose as, a few days ago, Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Professional Deputy of the Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation of the Taliban, Mohammad Nabi Omari, a Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs of the Taliban, and several other deputies of the group from various Taliban-controlled ministries, visited Nimruz province and discussed the relocation of the provincial capital.
Reliable sources state that tribal elders and various social groups were invited to this gathering, but due to opposition to relocating the capital from Zaranj to the Delaram district, they did not participate. Sources add that no tribal elder represented the people in this meeting, and only a few individuals, due to their allegiance to the Taliban, and a handful of others representing Pashtuns advocating for the transfer from Zaranj to Ghorghori, were present at the meeting.
This comes as the majority of Nimruz province residents express strong opposition to the Taliban’s decision, stating that instead of relocating the capital from Zaranj to the Delaram district, attention should be given to the issues and challenges facing the residents of this city. According to Nimruz province residents, the reasons cited by the Taliban are not genuine, and the Ghorghori region has no advantage over the city of Zaranj.
Haji Abdulrahim, one of the residents of Nimruz province, asserts that the transfer of the provincial capital from Zaranj to Ghorghori is neither rational nor logical. He emphasizes that the Taliban should respect the people’s wishes and retract their misguided decision. Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, this Nimruz province resident states, “The statements made by the Taliban governor to the people are not true. The Ghorghori region has less water than Zaranj, and the water in this area is mixed with gypsum.” Haji Abdulrahim comments on the urban development of Zaranj city the center of the province, saying, “In terms of urban development, they can expand their city plan as much as they desire towards the south and east. There are cities located in the border strip, and thankfully, nothing odd has happened in this regard until now.” He emphasizes that the majority of people have consistently shown opposition to the relocation of the Nimruz province center to the Ghorghori region, making it unequivocally rejected by the people.
Some of the youth in Nimruz province state that over the past several years, the residents of this province have invested significantly in the city of Zaranj. According to them, this city has gained prosperity and a distinct urban identity after years, and its relocation under challenging economic conditions is an injustice to the rights of the people in this province.
Wahid Ahmad, one of the youths in Nimruz province, states that despite the passage of years, governments have been unable to construct suitable facilities for government offices, and the majority of offices operate from rented houses. In his view, amid difficult economic conditions, the relocation of the Nimruz province center to Ghorghori is an act against the people. Mr. Ahmad emphasizes, “People have invested and thrived in Zaranj to the best of their abilities. Ghorghori lacks many facilities, including electricity, telecommunications, internet, schools, universities, and other services that we have here, making it impractical to relocate the center to that area.”
Nimruz province residents state that the majority of the people are opposed to the relocation of the provincial capital from Zaranj to Ghorghori, but the Taliban are attempting to move the center to an area predominantly inhabited by Pashtuns. They emphasize that instead of pursuing their ethnic goals, the Taliban should address the challenges faced by the impoverished people in the districts of Kang, Chakhansur, and Chahar Burjak, urging them not to abandon their areas due to severe drought conditions.
