The Taliban have reportedly continued to forcibly and unlawfully displace citizens across Afghanistan over the past three years. Recently, the group ordered the forced relocation of at least 100 Baloch families in Nimruz province. Some residents of Kang district in Nimruz claim that a Taliban commander has been making life unbearable, threatening about 100 families with forced displacement as an act of retaliation. They allege that this commander told them, “Go to Iran; this place is not yours.”
Residents report being threatened with forced relocation by Abdul Salam, a Taliban commander known as “Haji Omar.” They claim he frequently harasses residents and that he originally comes from Farah province but has served in the Taliban military command in this district for two years. According to them, this commander has repeatedly raided their homes under the pretext of inspections, assaulting and detaining residents due to personal grudges.
Several residents describe the harsh conditions under his rule, stating that even prominent elders from Nimruz avoid visiting the district to “preserve their dignity.”
Juma Gul (pseudonym), a Nimruz resident, recounts that Haji Omar, now a Taliban commander, once lived in Nimruz but relocated to Farah after his brother was killed over “honor-related issues.” Following the Taliban’s rise to power, Haji Omar returned to Nimruz, where he allegedly harassed, detained, and imprisoned local Baloch residents. Juma Gul adds that Mohammad Qasim Khalid, the Taliban governor of Nimruz, is aware of these abuses but cannot dismiss or restrain him due to support from the Taliban’s Ministries of Defense and Interior.
In an interview with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, Juma Gul explained, “During the Republic era, Haji Omar ran a car wash and dealership here. But after his brother was killed by a young Baloch man over an illicit affair, he fled with his family to Iran. Later, he joined the Taliban in Farah and, after their takeover, returned to Kang, where he routinely beat, detained, and interfered in people’s businesses. He even assaulted the brother of the district commander in Chahar Burjak, but despite the governor’s awareness, no action could be taken due to high-level backing.”
Another resident, Shoaib (pseudonym), stated that Haji Omar’s forces have searched their homes, sometimes twice daily, often entering at night when no men were present. He recalls an incident when Taliban forces entered the home of a villager named Haji Aziz Maakaki, frightening women and children. When neighbors intervened, they were detained. “For the past two years, Haji Omar’s men have raided our homes under drug-related pretenses, sometimes twice a day. Twenty days ago, they broke into our neighbor’s house at midnight. When we confronted them, they claimed to be searching for drugs, then detained 47 of us, shaved the heads of some detainees, and took our money and fuel,” Shoaib said.
Some Kang district residents accuse Haji Omar of ethnic bias, asserting that Baloch residents face increasing hardships. They report that he explicitly told them to leave the area.
Faiz Ahmad (pseudonym), another resident, described how Haji Omar has turned life into “a living hell,” threatening forced relocation for residents of Haji Aziz Maakaki village and nearby areas. “He’s beaten young men in public, accusing them of reckless motorcycle driving, and claim that they have recorded videos of the motorcycles recklessness, and then their men punctured and smashed the tires with their guns.,” Faiz Ahmad said, adding that many elders now avoid visiting the Kang district center to avoid humiliation and abuse by Haji Omar.
Faiz Ahmad further recalled, “Haji Omar told us, ‘I will force you Baloch to leave. Go to Iran; this place is not for you.’”
Additionally, some residents accuse Haji Omar of trafficking crystal meth to Iran. They allege he supports drug traffickers and is personally involved in smuggling. According to these claims, recent clashes with Iranian border guards resulted from drug smuggling attempts he directed.
An anonymous source from Kang district explained, “All drug smuggling in Kang is controlled by Haji Omar. Recently, his forces were transporting crystal meth to Iran when Iranian guards attacked, killing one of his men. He manages the entire smuggling network here.”
The Taliban have not officially commented on these allegations but have faced repeated accusations of ethnic targeting, retaliation, and forced relocations. Recently, they reportedly ordered the forced relocation of more than 600 families in Ghor, where residents continue to face similar threats.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
