The Taliban is missioned to destroy the education infrastructure. They closed the education doors to girls and use boys’ schools as military bases in the areas where they are fighting the NRF forces. There are reports from Panjshir that Taliban rebels have occupied a number of boys’ schools and have turned them into their military base.
During the last year, students in Panjshir Province have been deprived of going to school due to the ongoing armed conflicts between the Taliban and the National Resistance Front (NRF). Only a small number of students in this province go to school, based on reports.
Based on the study findings of international institutions that have been provided to Hasht-e Subh, these schools are located in different districts and villages of Panjshir province. A source in one of the international relief organizations whose name is not mentioned in this report, speaking to Hasht-e Subh, says that the Taliban have turned the buildings of 32 schools into military bases in seven districts of Panjshir.
According to this source, there are six schools in Rukha district, two schools in Hesa I district, four school for boys and girls in Bazarak district, seven school in Anaba district, four school in Shotul district, two schools for boys and girls in Dara district, five schools of boys’ and girls’ schools in Paryan district and two schools for boys’ and girls’ in Abshar district of Panjshir province that are being used as Taliban reblels’ military bases.
Meanwhile, about five months have passed since the beginning of the academic year in the country. In other provinces, in addition to female students, in Panjshir, thousands of male students are also denied from going to school. Local residents and public sources say that the continuation of armed conflicts in this province is one of the reasons for schools closure.
Meanwhile, a number of school principals and students in Panjshir also confirm that the Taliban have turned some classrooms into weapons warehouses, dormitories and kitchens. Qiamuddin (pseudonym) is the principle of the director ofthe public schools in Dara district of Panjshir province. He says that since the Taliban have taken control of Panjshir until now, most of the schools are closed to students and are being used as military strongholds of Taliban fighters.
He further adds that the local people have asked the Taliban several times to leave the schools, but the rebels have not paid any attention to the people’s request. He adds that with the escalation of armed battles and conflicts in the province, more and more schools and even private properties are being occupies by Taliban rebles.
Siawash is a 6th grade student of a public school in Anaba district, Panjshir province. He says that since the Taliban have come to this province,, he and his brothers have stopped going to school because of the fear of the Taliban and the conflicts. This student adds: “Because of the fear of the Taliban, my father does not allow us to go to school. Tthere is always a possibility of war in Panjshir and the Taliban are also present near our school and sometimes they fire in the air and we are afraid.” This little student talks about his longing for the classroom, his classmates and teachers, and he expresses his tiredness from the war.
A large number of students and school principals in Panjshir want the Taliban to leave schools and enable the ground the for schools’ resumption in the province. A request that the Taliban have not yet given a response to.
This is while the Taliban have taken control of Panjshir province and turned dozens of residential houses, schools and health centers into military bases. Previously, the Taliban had announced that the fighters of this group had been expelled from schools in Panjshir. This announcement of the Taliban was based on an agreement that was made between the Taliban and tribal elders in Panjshir some time ago. In this agreement, the Taliban had promised that the military forces of this group will not use residential houses, schools and clinics as military bases.
Since the capture of Panjshir by the Taliban, armed clashes between the forces of the National Resistance Front and the Taliban have been taking place from time to time in different parts of this province. During this period, along with casualties in different areas of Panjshir, civilian casualties have also been reported. Based on reports, number of civilians, including women and children, have been arrested, tortured and killed by the Taliban rebels in different parts of the province. The Taliban have always denied these claims. Earlier, the human rights watchdog had announced that the Taliban in Panjshir province are arresting and illegally torturing civilians on alleged charges of collaborating with the National Resistance Front.
