Taliban Local Militarization Project in Herat.
Credible sources in Herat Province have warned that the Taliban, through their intelligence structures, have launched a targeted program to identify, recruit, and arm local individuals.
According to the sources, this Taliban project endangers social security, urban stability, and the lives and property of civilians, and reflects the group’s efforts to expand its influence at the local level.
The sources say these developments come in response to statements made by Amir Ismail Khan, a prominent former jihadi leader and politician, who about one month ago declared that he would soon enter the battlefield against the Taliban and emphasized that resisting the Taliban is the responsibility of all Afghans.
Reports indicate that individuals with social influence including neighborhood elders, community representatives, local Taliban commanders, and even people with limited social standing are being systematically identified, recruited, and armed.
Local sources warn that the Taliban’s arming program in Herat, combined with Amir Ismail Khan’s earlier statements, has further destabilized the province’s security situation and could pave the way for intensified clashes and potential armed reactions.
They add that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to build loyal networks and impose coercive social control, and is not limited to a few individuals or specific areas.
According to the sources, the ultimate goal of this program is to create parallel power structures and increase Taliban control over Herat’s urban fabric an approach that risks eroding public trust and exacerbating violence and instability.
