Citing a source in Takhar province, Hasht-e Subh, an independent and nonprofit newspaper in Afghanistan, said on August 2 that one of Taliban’s commanders has warned Tajikistan that “if it does not stop interfering in internal affairs of Afghanistan, their troops can seize Tajikistan in a week.”
Taliban commander Mullah Janmuhammad Hamza reportedly stated this in the presence of the Minister of Propaganda of Virtue and Prevention of Vices, who was on a visit to Takhar province.
It is to be noted that the Taliban has brought back the 'Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' in Afghanistan, which was abolished during the US-led military occupation in the country. Its return sent a collective shudder through many Afghans, who remembered it for its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Recall, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, an Afghan politician, former mujahideen leader and drug trafficker, stated in May that Tajikistan, by providing asylum to the Afghan opposition, has declared war against Afghanistan.
“You, sheltering the Afghan armed opposition in your country; do you know what does it mean? It is nothing but declaration of war to Afghanistan (Taliban regime – editor's note),” Hekmatyar stated.
“The republic thereby helps the armed opponents of the neighboring country,” he said.
According to Hekmatyar, as a result of this “hostile unilateral, baseless policy of Tajikistan, Afghanistan will be forced to provide asylum to the Tajik armed opposition.”
“What will be the fate of the weak and small Tajikistan if this happens? If 2,000 or 3,000 people get asylum in our country, this will create certain problems for Dushanbe,” Hekmatyar warned.
