Bashir Hotak, Kabul,
The Doha talks between United States and Taliban was reached to peace deal, its included the withdrawal of US troops and release of captured Talibans.
The Taliban are bound on several clauses such of them were not to attack and capture cities and major highways, immediate twitch inter-Afghan dialogue with Afghan authorities and an immediate ceasefire or at least a reduction of war intensity, but all this did not happen accordingly as Doha peace deal talks and intensity increases.
Taliban occupy dozens of districts as US troops withdrew from Afghanistan, and spectrum of war now extended in civilian territory.
Taliban fighters have seized hundreds of districts and commercial ports in some parts of the country.
While Spin Boldak- Durand Line, Sher Khan-Tajik border, two ports in Herat province, Turgundai, and commercial ports of Islam Qila and Abu Nasr Farahi in Farah province.
Meanwhile Afghan security forces are conducting special operations to bring these commercial ports back under government control, a month has passed US forces withdrew; Talibans are still in control on these ports.
According to Afghan Finance Ministry website, annual import and export from these five ports animatedly generates 70billion revenue and that was directly deposited in government treasury.
An important question raised that how and where Taliban fighters will use this ports revenue, Afghan experts were expressing their concerns that Taliban-controlled trade routes are no longer crowded and some business communities are reluctant to take out their assets from these ports due to insecurity.Taliban are actively control these ports and receiving large sums of money.
According to national news agency, Zabihullah Mujahid Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan, told that we collect taxes in a very systematic manner and generate revenue. In past this revenue annually deposited in treasury but now Taliban collects this revenue.
The spokesman also said that Taliban have occupied more than two hundred districts in the country where millions of civilians need basic infrastructure, health facilities, education system and transport while Taliban keenly look forward for development of infrastructure and welfare of these citizens from this revenue.
On the other side Analysts overseeing the Afghan situation have a lot of reservations on Taliban controlled ports, they said that Taliban have no credibility, if they were sincere with Afghans and wants development on public welfare. They would not damage infrastructure while bombed hospitals, clinics, schools and government buildings in these districts even more that Taliban allow mass to looting public buildings in their control territory.
If Taliban are sincere to the people, they should declare a ceasefire immediately, Analysts demanded.
Some analysts highlight weak government policies and corruption in institutions and fear that revenue could be used for war. Once again Afghanistan grips in a series of wars that has entered in civilian territory.
Analyst added that Taliban may spend money on arms purchases and bear foreign fighters’ expenses, including food and shelter. How much truth in this has not been confirmed by any source.
Analyst said that it is noteworthy that NATO coalition forces withdrew in 2014 from Afghanistan, Taliban began occupying some districts. Electricity and utility bills imposed in areas under their control. News circulating that Taliban fighters not only continued to collect electricity bills from the citizens of these areas, but also collect usher and zakat, every farmer is bound to pay one tenth of their crop, food from the common residents including monthly protection money from mobile towers has been taken by force.
For the past three years, Taliban collects toll tax and inter-provincial tax from freight vehicles on major highways. On average they collect 15,000 to 30,000 (Afghan currency) per vehicle.
However, all this happened under nose of the government. The Government forces targets these Taliban controlled toll tax check posts from land and conduct several air strikes. However, after few days, Taliban regains these check posts and re-imposes taxes and recovery process.
Interestingly, truck drivers, owners, traders and government officials, are forced to pay taxes, otherwise they are not allowed to move on these trade routes. Due to taxing to two different elements Taliban forces and Government authorities, the value of commodities increases, which directly affect ordinary Afghans.
According to a report, compared to 2017, food prices in Afghanistan have increased by 70% while the graph of poverty has also risen up.
Tax collection check posts set up by Taliban fighters on the highway north of the capital Kabul at Dand Ghauri in Baghlan Province and on the highway from Kabul to the northeastern provinces at Jir Khoshk in Baghlan Province, from Kabul. Roads leading to the southern areas have been set up in Muqur area of Ghazni province.
There are lot of unanswered questions left behind about where, how and in what way the money spend by Taliban.
This post was originally published on VOSA.
