Badakhshan's undeclared autonomy makes one thing clear: the Taliban are also following Karzai and Ghani in dividing the Tajiks.
Author: Rustam Rushangar, analyst, especially for Sangar
During the period of struggle for political power between Tajiks and Pashtuns, three regions inhabited by Tajiks became strategically important: Parwan-Kapisa, Panjshir, and Badakhshan. It is not without reason that we have seen that mysterious circles have been aggravating disputes between Panjshir and Badakhshan over the past two years. Unfortunately, some people unintentionally engage in these discussions and add grist to the enemy's mill.
If we consider the Tajiks as an army lined up to seize power in Kabul, then Parwan-Kapisa is at the head of the army, Badakhshan is at the end, and Panjshir is in the middle. Badakhshan is very important because it is connected to Tajikistan. Now the enemy plans to hit the Tajiks from behind. Badakhshan is the rear of the Tajik front.
But how does the enemy want to strike from behind? In my opinion, the enemy does this by providing privileges to the Tajiks of Badakhshan and strengthening the sentiments of separatism, independence, autonomy, and localism of the Tajiks of Badakhshan. Even if Badakhshan is granted full autonomy, this will not be considered a threat to Pashtun power in Kabul.
Of course, some steps have been taken in this direction. The fact that Fasihuddin Badakhshi is considered the chief of the general staff of the army and that, for example, most of the local officials of Badakhshan are said to come from the province itself. It is consistent with the granting of some autonomy to Badakhshan. The goal is to make the Badakhshan Tajiks feel that they are the ruler of their region and there is no need for war and resistance.
In fact, the goal is to cut off the rear support of the Tajik army, which is geographically connected from Badakhshan to Kabul, and if the Tajiks fight together against the Pashtun power, it will not be able to hold out in Kabul.
I think that some even intelligent Tajiks like Latif Pidrom are tempted to accept this secret gift from the Pashtuns. Mr. Peedrom recently described the killing of a Tajik commander of the Badakhshan Taliban as a martyrdom and responded to criticism by saying that the presence of Badakhshan Tajiks in the local government structure was a useful opportunity.
Here we are again faced with some kind of conspiracy, which, I hope, our good Tajiks will understand and will not fall into its trap. In fact, this plot is aimed at dismembering the Tajiks, and it is similar to what Karzai and Ghani did against the Tajiks during the twenty years of the republic's existence.
The Tajiks of Badakhshan must know that if the Pashtuns separate you from the body of the Tajiks, granting so-called undeclared autonomy, and take away your motivation in war and resistance, then after suppressing the Tajiks of other regions, they will also suppress you. And then you cannot defend yourself alone. The Tajiks of Panjshir, Parvan, and Kapisa should also know about this dangerous conspiracy.
