Taliban Authorities Detain 70 People in Samangan for Early Pistachio Picking
The Taliban’s security command in Samangan province has announced the arrest of 70 individuals accused of prematurely picking pistachios from the province’s forests. According to the authority, these individuals were detained on Tuesday, June 29, in the Hazrat Sultan district.
A statement issued by the security command stated that the arrests followed complaints from local tribal elders and residents. The operation was carried out by the Samangan Forest Protection Unit.
However, the Taliban administration has not provided any details regarding the detainees’ current status, legal situation, or place of custody—raising ongoing concerns about transparency in judicial and legal processes under Taliban rule.
Similar incidents of arrests related to pistachio picking have been reported in other provinces in recent years. Pistachio is considered one of the important natural products in northern Afghanistan, with its harvest season commencing annually during a specific period.
