The Taliban considers the Tajik government responsible for the radicalization of youth

A senior Taliban official accused the authorities of Tajikistan of “Islamophobia,” which has led Tajik youth to follow the path of terrorists.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban government Abdul Salam Hanafi stated that “extremism” in some countries neighboring Afghanistan has prompted youth to join terrorist groups.

During his speech at Kabul University, Abdus Salam Hanafi claimed that neighboring countries are radical in their Islamophobia.

“They practice Islamophobia so extremely that they say residents should not visit mosques until they have gray hair in their beards, ban Islamic names, and prohibit Muslim women from wearing hijabs. Their extremism has become the main reason why youth in these countries have joined various terrorist groups,” said Abdus Salam Hanafi.

Continuing his speech, this senior Taliban official reassured his neighbors that “no one is threatened from the territory of Afghanistan.”

“We want to live in peace with all countries in the region and around the world, and to live based on mutual respect,” he added.

Experts believe that Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban government Abdul Salam Hanafi primarily refers to the government of Emomali Rahmon, which has banned women from wearing hijabs due to its “Islamophobia.” The authorities of Tajikistan also frequently make anti-Taliban statements from high platforms.

In particular, on June 3 of this year, the Chairman of the Majlisi Oli Majlisi Milli (upper house of parliament) of Tajikistan Rustam Emomali noted at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSTO in Almaty that Afghanistan has once again become a “breeding ground for terrorism.”

During his speech, Rustam Emomali stated that more than a thousand religious madrasas have been established on the territory of Afghanistan, most of which are located in close proximity to Tajikistan, where “including suicide bombers are being trained.”