Several money changers in the Kefayat Market in Mazar-e-Sharif city say that the Taliban have closed nearly 50 shops and warned that all money changers must be relocated to a newly built market. They accuse the Taliban of ethnic favoritism, saying the group is seeking to weaken the economic foundations of other ethnic groups. According to them, the Taliban, through the recent construction of a new market by individuals affiliated with the group and on the advice of some Pashtun traders, are seeking to impose ethnic discrimination in the economic structure and control of the market. These money changers say that the Taliban’s security commander in Balkh, instead of attending to his own responsibilities, is also pursuing ethnic monopoly in the economic sphere and is trying to force the money changers out of Kefayat and relocate them to “Mazar Hotel,” which they say is linked to his ethnic ties and possibly his financial interests.
Some money changers at “Kefayat Market” in Mazar-e-Sharif city, the center of Balkh province, accuse the Taliban of ethnic favoritism, economic monopolization in favor of one ethnic group, discriminatory ethnic treatment, and the weakening of other ethnic groups, saying that by closing the old currency exchange center in Balkh, the group is seeking to impose ethnic dominance over the financial and economic sectors.
These money changers emphasize that the Taliban’s security commander in this province has a hand in the closure and evacuation of Kefayat and is exerting pressure to have the market vacated as soon as possible, even though, according to them, the evacuation of the market is an economic matter and has nothing to do with the Taliban’s security commander.
One money changer, who asked for anonymity in the report, said: “Some time ago, they also put a lot of pressure on us, but the shopkeepers were not willing to leave. Since about a month ago, the disputes have started again. The Taliban governor turns a blind eye, but the Taliban’s security commander is insistent. They simply want to have the money market under their own control.”
This money changer added: “The main problem is that Kefayat Market does not belong to Pashtuns. They want to relocate the money changers to a market that was built by a Pashtun individual, and Asef Mohmand, the former provincial council member, also has a share and role in it. It is precisely these individuals who give such advice to the Taliban. The Taliban also consider the ethnic issue more important than anything else for themselves. They are not thinking about the benefit or harm to the people; their aim is for themselves and their ethnic group to hold power and control the economy.”
Another money changer said: “So far, they have sealed 50 shops. Previously, they had forcibly relocated Ariana Market. They demolished the old Mazar Hotel and built a new market there. They also forged and falsified the documents of that same location. They even wanted to relocate the fuel sellers, but they resisted and chose another location themselves. They simply want everything to be under Pashtun control, and the mistreatment of people continues.”
At the same time, another source accuses Sayed Karim Hashimi, head of the Chamber of Commerce, claiming that he is behind this issue and, in collusion with other individuals, is carrying out such actions and abusing his influence among the Taliban.
Video footage obtained by the Hasht-e Subh Daily shows that several shops have been sealed by the Taliban. The video shows Taliban fighters going shop to shop, forcing money changers to leave their shops so that the shop doors can be locked and sealed.
Previously, the Taliban had arrested the head and members of the Balkh Money Changers Union because of their opposition to the Taliban’s decision to relocate the currency exchange shops from Kefayat Market to the newly established “Mazar Hotel” market.
“Kefayat Market,” located in the fourth district of Mazar-e-Sharif city, is one of the long-standing currency exchange markets in Balkh province, with about two thousand money changers operating in it.
“Mazar Hotel” market has also been recently built and currently houses pharmacists, some money changers, and food vendors.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
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