Mystery Fire Destroys Sufi Shrine Linked to Shah Darvishan in Badakhshan
A mysterious fire has damaged a shrine attributed to the revered Ismaili mystic Diwana Shah, also known as ‘Shah Darvishan,’ in the village of Khalkhan in Zebak district of Badakhshan province. Local sources allege that members of the Taliban administration were involved in the incident, but Taliban officials have denied any role, attributing the blaze to unidentified individuals.
The Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture in Badakhshan stated that a delegation has been dispatched to investigate the incident. According to the department, around 70 percent of the shrine’s structure was destroyed by the fire, and efforts are underway to identify those responsible.
Abdulrahman Kasra, the Taliban-appointed deputy for Zebak district, confirmed that intelligence agencies are probing the case, but declined to provide further details. The Taliban’s police command also confirmed an ongoing investigation, saying the cause and motive of the fire remain unknown.
Locals regard Diwana Shah as a follower of the renowned Persian philosopher Nasir Khusraw Balkhi, and hold his memory in high esteem. They reported that copies of Shah’s poetry, which were kept inside the shrine, were destroyed in the blaze.
The fire has reignited public concern over the Taliban administration’s perceived neglect of Afghanistan’s cultural and religious heritage. Calls for transparent accountability remain unanswered.
