Disputes between Kuchis (Pashtun nomads) and the sedentary population living in central Afghanistan have been one of the most critical and complicated issues in the last twenty years. The issue has usually led to armed conflicts and widespread protests in the past. Governments, however, have never been able or willing to address it.
Sources in Maidan Wardak province have reported that the unresolved tensions between nomads and villagers in the first and second districts of Behsud have escalated once again after a month. Sources in the province say that although the nomad-sedentary conflict management commission reached an agreement in the district a month ago, the two sides have not remained committed to the articles of agreement.
Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, a resident of Behsud district, told Hasht-e Subh that in the past week, armed nomads in several parts of the two districts have set up tents on the agricultural lands, which has caused people to clash with the nomads once again. In Contrast, nomads in these districts have claimed ownership of the lands on the bases of decrees issued by the brutal king Abdur Rahman. Villagers in Behsud district consider the resolution limiting the nomadic use of the district’s lands as unfair and emphasize that according to this resolution, all the mountains, plains and water of these districts have been handed over to the nomads. The continuation of this long-running conflict has caused Amin Omari, the Taliban governor for Maidan Wardak and a delegation from the relevant commission to travel to Behsud district yesterday.
Sources in the district confirm that the district governor of Behsud, considered the nomads’ claim of ownership as illegal and said that they had taken steps to resolve the challenge, disarming a number of nomads and out casting them from residential areas and agricultural lands. However, the governor of the Taliban in the province and the board of the Nomad and Dispute Resolution Commission in a joint meeting with representatives of the two sides, called on the people to calm down and wait until Eid ceremony to resolve the problem permanently. Meanwhile, Taliban members in Maidan Wardak and representatives of the two sides will travel to the disputed areas and put an end to this challenge.
The dispute between nomads and ancient residents has been going on for many years in the first and second part of Behsud and Daimirdad districts of Maidan Wardak province, which culminates every year with the beginning of spring. In recent years, a number of civilians have been killed and wounded by nomads following tensions between nomads and local residents. In addition, about 12 years ago, armed nomads attacked parts of the two districts, destroying and burning the private properties of the localities.
The nomads and villagers issue is not limited to Maidan Wardak province. Earlier, sources in Ghazni province reported that with the arrival of spring, nomads have entered the agribable lands of the residents of Malistan and Jaghuri districts with their livestock and herds. Sources told Hasht-e Subh that residents of the two districts had reported the issue to the district headquarters in groups and complained to the Taliban following the event, but the issue is still not addressed. Nomads have entered Pashi, area in Malistan district and the Hotqul and Anguri, areas in Jaghori district.
Nomad-sedentary population conflict has existed for many years between the people of Ghazni and the nomads.