Local Sources Describe the Background of Taliban Gatherings in Northern Afghanistan.
Local sources in the provinces of Takhar, Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Baghlan report extensive Taliban planning to hold organized demonstrations.
According to these sources, the purpose of these gatherings is described as mobilizing public opinion against Pakistan and demonstrating popular support for Taliban rule.
This comes as reports indicate intensive efforts to mobilize people, use the influence of local figures, and create a broad promotional atmosphere;
an action that some observers assess as an attempt to strengthen political positioning through social pressure.
A resident of Takhar, referring to the bloody events of the 1990s, says that memories of heavy attacks and harm to civilians remain alive in people’s minds.
He emphasizes that past experiences, including damage to residential areas and civilian casualties, have caused part of society to view current calls with skepticism.
According to him, the new slogans are seen as inconsistent with the bitter memories of the past, and this has reduced the level of public trust.
At the same time, a number of Takhar residents say that the general atmosphere is sensitive toward these programs and that widespread participation in the organized gatherings has not been observed.
They believe that years of war and instability have made people more cautious toward political movements.
Some observers also assess the decline in participation in such programs as a sign of distance between the Taliban and part of society in the northeast of the country;
a matter that could affect the social and political equations of these areas.
