Taliban Increases Surveillance on Ethnic Officials Amid Protests

Leaked information from security circles indicates that the Taliban leader summoned Mawlawi Watheeq, the head of the group’s intelligence agency, for a confidential meeting in Kandahar. During this meeting, specific directives were issued to increase surveillance on Tajik and Uzbek officials, commanders, and deputies.

Details from the Meeting

The gathering, which took place following recent protests in Badakhshan province, mandated the intelligence agency to prioritize monitoring individuals with a history of dissent or connections to local demonstrators. Reports related to these subjects are to be sent directly to the leadership office.

During the meeting, the intelligence chief proposed relocating non-Pashtun local officials to other regions of the country as a strategy to manage public discontent and establish stability in the northern areas. Analysts believe this move signifies an effort by the central authority to strengthen structural control and reduce the potential for protests in sensitive regions of the country.