Local sources say the Taliban has ordered Hazaras in the Sarchashma village of Jalrez district in Maidan Wardak province to pay penalties to Kuchis for the loss of their livestock. The Kuchis’ livestock reportedly went missing several years ago in the area.
One source told KabulNow that the livestock was “seized” by Abdul Ghani Alipour, a local Hazara commander. However, the Kuchis have accused the local Hazaras of stealing their herd, but the Hazaras have denied the allegations.
Despite the denials, a district-level Taliban commission for dispute resolution have issued an order to 23 local residents of Sarchashma to pay 1,750,000 Afghani (over US$23,000) to the Kuchis as a penalty for the loss of their livestock. The Taliban authorities have also detained several local Hazara elders in connection with this dispute.
Documents shared with KabulNow show that some 85% of the total amount has apparently been paid to the Kuchis by 21 residents, with the remaining due in the next ten days.
The Commission has announced a general amnesty between both sides once this dispute is resolved, asserting that no side will have any future claim against the other. It has also said that a 500,000 Afghani (almost US$7,000) penalty will be enforced if any side violates the Committee’s decision.
Hazara-Kuchis dispute, mainly over land and grazing rights, has existed for decades. However, it has been fueled since the Taliban overtook power two years ago. The group has been accused of siding with Kuchis when such conflicts (re)emerge.
Last week, local sources reported that about 500 families have been stranded in Bamyan’s Regshad Wasat village since the Taliban backed Kuchis over a land dispute by blocking the passage and transport routes of locals.
Local residents accused a group of Pashtuns of claiming ownership over a 3.5-acre land of native residents using “false documents” and demanding 10,900,000 Afghani (over US$132,000) from local villagers to resolve the dispute.
