Distribution of 1,350 acres of land among non-locals
*Taliban decision sparks unrest in Nangarhar


Frontier Post

By AIMAL KHAN
PESHAWAR - The Taliban administration's decision of allotting state property to the non-locals in Afghanistan's eastern Nangrahar province, bordering Pakistan, has caused discontent and anger among the locals.
An informed sources, who recently returned from the war-ravaged country, told this scribe here on Friday that the Taliban authorities in Nangrahar had decided to distribute 1,350 acres of land at Chor Guli-Daag, near the provincial capital of Nangrahar, situated on the strategic Jalalabad-Torkham highway.
The proposed land, stretching from Omerkhel checkpost to Barikoh Bridge would be allotted to about 600 families from Logar and Paktia provinces. These families mainly comprise traders and pro-Taliban commanders.
The importance and value of the land could be gauged from the fact that it lies on the main supply route to commercially important cities of Jalalabad and the Pakistani border town of Torkham.
The acting president in the Taliban administration, Maulvi Kabir, who himself belongs to Logar province and a prominent Jehadi commander from Paktia were reportedly behind this decision.
The locals claimed that the said land belonged to them and the Taliban had no right to distribute it among the non-locals just for furthering their political interests.
The local tribal chiefs, especially from districts Batikot, Sheshahi and Hazarbuz, reportedly held their meetings to decided their future line of action vis-a-vis the Taliban decision.
"This decision is not acceptable to us and we will not allow anyone to distribute our land among their cronies," confided a Peshawar-based affectee.
"If not reverted, the decision could invite the anger of the locals and will provide a golden chance to the opposition to exploit the situation," added the source.
The source claimed that the furious locals had warned the Taliban authorities, especially Maulvi Kabir, to take back their decision or otherwise they will meet the same fate as of Haji Abdul Qadeer, the former governor Nangrahar.
The locals appealed to the Taliban movement's founder Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid, to review the decision.
It was also expected that a delegation will soon meet the Taliban leadership in this regard.