UNAMA: Mass arrest of Uzbeks in Faryab by the Taliban.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed that the Taliban have been detaining Uzbeks, including children, in large numbers in Faryab province.
In its quarterly report released on Sunday, UNAMA said that at least 87 Uzbeks were detained by the Taliban in early June after clashes with Pashtuns.
The clashes began when a group of Pashtun youth threw “firecracker” explosives at Uzbek women.
Tensions between youth on both sides escalated following the incident, but the Taliban eventually arrested most of the Uzbeks on charges of organizing protests.
UNAMA also reported the arrest of two Pashtun youths, but critics say the showy act, in contrast to the widespread detention of Uzbeks, is a clear sign of discrimination and the Taliban’s one-sided ethnic policies.
The incident has sparked outrage and protests in the Uzbek community and has once again reinforced accusations against the Taliban of a Pashtun-centric, mono-ethnic government.
