Taliban Announces Opening of First DNA Testing Laboratory in Afghanistan
The Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health has announced the establishment and operation of the first DNA testing laboratory within Afghanistan, an achievement hailed by officials as a milestone in the field of forensic medicine. Noor Jalal Jalali, acting head of the Taliban Ministry of Public Health, claimed during the inauguration of this center that the establishment of this laboratory will significantly facilitate the identification of bodies and forensic and judicial investigations.
Although the Taliban administration describes this as the country’s first experience, in March 2020, Ferozuddin Feroz, the Minister of Public Health of the previous government, announced the launch of Afghanistan’s first DNA laboratory. According to his statements, the center was intended to address serious shortcomings in the medical, forensic, judicial, and even security sectors.
Before the creation of these facilities, Afghanistan’s judicial and forensic authorities relied on Canada for DNA testing. This arrangement was not only costly but also delayed the investigation processes of complex cases.
Despite the importance of such capacities, the lack of transparency and independent oversight bodies under the Taliban administration has raised concerns about the potential misuse or inefficiency of these laboratories. A serious question remains: in the absence of a credible judicial system, how can such scientific tools truly contribute to justice rather than becoming instruments of new forms of pressure?
