8am: Residents of the Samti area in Chah Ab District of Takhar Province rose in protest, armed with stones and sticks, against Taliban-affiliated companies they accused of plundering gold mines and destroying their water wells. Sources identify the companies as belonging to Haji Mohib and Haji Ruhullah Ruhani from Kandahar Province. They are described as commission agents for Chinese companies who seize people’s land and sell the areas to Chinese firms. Sources say that a few days ago, workers from these companies began digging on private land without informing residents or local Taliban institutions, triggering a strong backlash from the community. Click here to read more (external link).
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Afghanistan International: Protesters in northern Afghanistan set fire to gold mining equipment linked to the Taliban after clashes with security forces and company personnel escalated in Takhar province, local sources said. The violence followed confrontations in the Samti area of Chah Ab district, where residents have opposed what they describe as unregulated gold mining by companies linked to the Taliban. Sources told Afghanistan International that at least three local residents and one Taliban member have been killed so far, while the number of injured has risen to 16. 
8am: Several residents of Rawza village, located near the historic Rawza of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, say the Taliban seized land in the same area without following legal steps or acknowledging ownership documents. They describe the area as one of the most densely populated residential zones of Ghazni city, home to more than 5,000 people whose lives are closely tied to this land. According to residents, these lands have supported local families for generations, serving as the backbone of farming, income, and survival. They say the Taliban took the land by force, ignoring deeds and evidence that clearly establish private ownership. 
8am: When commanders and fighters from within the group face accusations of sexual relations outside marriage, the Taliban often protect their own. Instead of enforcing the Sharia punishments they claim to uphold, they conceal these acts by imposing forced marriages. These accounts follow earlier findings by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, which documented in multiple reports that the Taliban have forced girls into marriage across several provinces using violence and money. 
Amu: Public employees in Afghanistan say unpaid salaries are pushing many into severe financial difficulty as winter temperatures drop and the cost of food and healthcare rises. Employees said wages for the months of Qaws and Jadi (November and December) remain unpaid, despite payroll documents and financial reports having been submitted to the finance ministry by public institutions. 
