Local sources in Badakhshan report that residents have been barred from working in gold mines following an armed clash between rival Taliban factions. The conflict erupted in the Owayz area of Shahr-e Bozorg district between the Taliban governor’s forces and local Taliban fighters over control of the mining site .
Despite the Taliban Ministry of Mines’ policy prioritizing local employment, residents say they are now being blocked from earning a livelihood. Several locals, who were briefly detained during the skirmish, stated they have been prohibited from gold panning and mining without any clear justification or charges against them .
The incident highlights growing internal rifts within the Taliban regarding the control of lucrative natural resources. With mining operations halted due to the infighting, the local community, which depends heavily on this work for survival, is facing severe economic hardship while the group struggles to resolve its power dispute .
