Afghanistan International: Reliable sources from Balkhab district in Sar-e-Pul province, reported to Afghanistan International that the Taliban officials have detained and tortured at least 14 local residents. The families of these detainees have not been allowed to visit them for weeks. According to local sources, several operatives of the Taliban’s intelligence department, masquerading as mining contractors, have attempted to coerce locals into denouncing the Taliban’s oppressive measures. When some residents voiced complaints about discriminatory practices by the Taliban and expressed sympathy towards resistance movements, they were reportedly recorded by Taliban spies. Click here to read more (external link).