KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province say that the Taliban have changed the nighttime curfew, moving it from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
According to the sources, Taliban military officials in Panjshir have instructed village elders to inform residents that no one is allowed to leave their homes after 8:00 p.m. without prior coordination. Those who violate the restriction will be subject to arrest.
A source in Parian district of Panjshir said that Taliban officials told local residents during a meeting that anyone needing to leave home after 8:00 p.m. must first contact a security checkpoint and obtain permission before going outside.
According to the sources, these restrictions have been imposed throughout Panjshir province.
The Taliban have not publicly explained the reason for imposing the restrictions. However, it appears that the measure may be intended to prevent possible movements by anti-Taliban groups as the weather becomes warmer.
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they faced armed resistance in Panjshir. Resistance forces, including the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, have repeatedly clashed with Taliban forces in the province. The group claims that it continues to maintain a presence and influence in Panjshir.
Panjshir, a mountainous province northeast of Kabul and historically a stronghold of resistance against the Taliban, has been subject to ongoing security operations and restrictions. In recent years, the Taliban have detained dozens of residents, including activists, journalists, and teachers, on various charges, such as alleged links to armed groups or possession of weapons.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented patterns of arbitrary arrests, torture, and collective punishment in Panjshir, describing some Taliban actions there as potential war crimes. The group has faced similar accusations of detaining and mistreating former government officials and security personnel across Afghanistan.
The new restrictions come amid ongoing security concerns in Panjshir. Although large-scale fighting has decreased compared to previous years, reports of security operations, arrests, and occasional clashes continue to emerge from the province, underscoring the Taliban’s efforts to maintain control over an area historically associated with resistance movements.
