Five Arrested for Illegal Excavation in Badghis Province
The Badghis police command has announced that security forces arrested five individuals in the Jowand district of Badghis province on charges of illegal digging and attempting to find antiquities.
Sediqullah Sediqi, spokesperson for the Badghis police command, said that these individuals were identified and detained last night during a security operation in the Khwaja Jahangir area of Jowand district while digging in a suspicious site.
According to him, the detainees were excavating with the aim of obtaining antiquities and valuable historical objects. After their arrest, they were referred to judicial and legal authorities for further investigation.
These arrests occur while the Taliban administration in Badghis claims that dozens of others have also been arrested this year on charges of illegal excavation in archaeological sites and cutting down natural forests. However, cultural experts emphasize that protecting historical heritage requires transparent policies, specialized supervision, and the prevention of arbitrary actions—issues that have consistently drawn criticism under the Taliban administration.
