Warning from Badakhshan and Takhar Governors to the Taliban: Local Protests Shake the Foundations of Governance.
Local sources in Badakhshan and Takhar provinces report that the spread of public protests in these two provinces has raised serious concern among Taliban officials.
According to these sources, the governors of Badakhshan and Takhar have warned Taliban leadership in internal meetings that continuing social dissatisfaction particularly in the northern and northeastern regions could significantly undermine the stability of the regime.
These areas are considered more prone to widespread protests due to economic pressures, restrictions, and unaddressed local grievances.
In response, the Taliban have sent multiple official delegations to Takhar and Badakhshan in recent days to manage protests through field visits and political and religious pressures.
On Friday, January 9, 2026, a delegation from the Taliban Ministry of Mines, led by Deputy Minister Issa Akhund, visited Chah-Ab District in Takhar.
However, due to security concerns, they avoided direct interaction with the public, summoning local representatives to Kandak Samti instead.
Observers interpret this approach as a sign of the Taliban’s fear of direct confrontation with protesters.
At the same time, Friday sermon lines in Samti, Nur Aba, and surrounding villages focused on recent protests, with Taliban clerics urging people to refrain from further demonstrations.
However, reports indicate that dissatisfaction remains, and Taliban promises including halting some companies’ activities and regulating water supply routes have failed to regain public trust.
Local analysts warn that if citizens’ legitimate demands are ignored, local protests could become a decisive factor in weakening Taliban control over northern and northeastern provinces.
