Taliban Arrests of Residents and Students Rise After Panjshir Blast

Local sources in Panjshir say the Taliban administration has increased arrests of residents and set up more checkpoints after a Ranger vehicle belonging to the administration was blown up in Dara district, measures they say have heightened fear and harassment among the public.

According to the sources, Taliban forces detained 22 people, including a number of school students, on Monday. Some of those detained were released after one night, but the sources say arrests continued on Tuesday as well.

One local source said 12 of those arrested were transferred to Dashtak prison. Residents say Taliban forces in Dara district have stepped up vehicle searches and arrests.

The arrests followed an explosion on Monday, 20 Mizan, targeting a Taliban Ranger vehicle in the Abdullahkhel area. The Green Trend, the military wing of Green Trend led by Amrullah Saleh, claimed responsibility for the attack in a video it released and said three members of the Taliban administration were killed.

Green Trend said the detainees have no connection to the group. Local sources also provided no further information about the identity of those behind the blast or details of the Taliban administration’s official investigation.