Youth of Panjshir: The New Victims of Taliban War
Local sources in Panjshir province have reported to IntelMedium that the Taliban has recently announced that young people between the ages of 16 and 18 can voluntarily join the group’s military academy. However, according to these sources, widespread poverty, economic hardship, and lack of job opportunities have forced many of these youths to join not out of interest, but out of necessity.
One local source states, “The Taliban pretend that registration is voluntary, but the reality is that the youth have no option but to join – either stay unemployed and hungry, or join the Taliban ranks.”
Another source confirms that after recruitment, many of these young people are sent to the borders with Pakistan and Iran, often without proper training, under dangerous and vulnerable conditions.
One of these youths, who has experienced being sent to the border, recounts: “If Pakistani border guards opened fire, the Taliban, especially the Pashto-speaking and Panjshiri youth, were sent to the frontlines, while they themselves would shoot from behind. When I saw this, I fled and returned.”
This comes amidst frequent clashes over the past three years between Taliban fighters and border guards of Pakistan and Iran. Border tensions, especially in areas such as Nimroz and Kunar, have often led to armed confrontations and casualties. In such an environment, sending underage youth to the frontlines of these borders presents significant risks to their lives.
Another source adds, “All these young people join the Taliban out of poverty, desperation, and lack of a future, but the Taliban are effectively sending them to their death.”
International organizations have repeatedly expressed concerns about the presence of underage individuals in the Taliban ranks. Video footage released by the group has shown minors among the armed Taliban fighters.
Human rights organizations have warned that using minors in military activities, especially without proper training, violates human rights principles and international conventions related to children’s rights.
While the Taliban have gained control of most areas of Afghanistan and established their military structure across the country, some limited areas in Panjshir province remain outside their full control, serving as hubs for sporadic resistance. However, the absence of independent monitoring bodies and lack of transparency in the recruitment process have made the use of minors within the Taliban ranks a serious concern for the international community.