Protests Erupt in Faryab Over Compulsory Tazkera Distribution

Residents in Faryab province have staged protests against what they describe as the compulsory distribution of national identification cards, or tazkeras, by Taliban authorities. The demonstrations are centered in the Andkhoy district, where locals allege the registration drive bypasses standard legal procedures.

According to local reports, the head of the civil registry in Qormqul district was summoned to the provincial capital of Maimana and detained by Taliban fighters. The detention reportedly followed the official’s refusal to issue identification documents outside established legal frameworks, an action allegedly carried out on the orders of the provincial governor.

Community members claim that the expedited process primarily benefits recently settled Kuchi populations, a practice they consider unlawful. Protests have reportedly expanded across four districts within Andkhoy, with demonstrators demanding an immediate halt to the registration drive and calling for a transparent investigation into the administrative directives.

The civil registry system has historically been a sensitive administrative matter in the region. Local sources indicate that tensions remain ongoing as residents continue to gather, urging provincial authorities to suspend the current distribution method and address documentation grievances through established legal channels. Officials have not yet issued a public statement regarding the detention or the ongoing demonstrations.