Taliban controlled areas, Dec 2019
n the beginning of December in Badakhshan province local gold miners start protest against non-payment of wages. They blocked a road to Kabul, organized demonstrations, marches and meetings.
Local gold exploration is controlled by Taliban since regional authority lost the ability to manage through the corruption and continuous clashes between local clans. Local gold miners have to pay 20% tax to Taliban each month. But Taliban also seem to be unable to control the mining, because against the background of social protests, Badakhshan Taliban commander declares his joining to Afghan peace process and surrendered to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
So, traditional local trades may not always be a direct source of terrorism financing, because it require a level of social organization and governance that is more developed and complex than may be offered by terrorist groups.
