The Taliban’s intelligence agency has reportedly detained Afghan singer and dambura player Sayed Ghafar Agha in Kabul after he posted a video mourning the death of senior National Resistance Front commander Hasib Panjshiri.
Local sources told KabulNow that Agha was taken into custody following the publication of the video, which expressed mourning over Panjshiri’s death. The circumstances of his detention and his current whereabouts remain unclear.
The reported arrest has raised concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression and artistic activity under Taliban rule. Musicians and artists in Afghanistan have faced significant restrictions since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, while public expressions viewed as supportive of opposition groups can carry additional risks.
Hasib Panjshiri was reportedly a senior commander of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front, an anti-Taliban group active mainly in northern Afghanistan. His reported death and subsequent burial in Panjshir have attracted attention among supporters and opponents of the Taliban.
The detention of Agha, if confirmed, could further highlight the sensitivity surrounding public expressions of support or sympathy for resistance figures. However, the allegations have not been independently verified, and Taliban authorities have not publicly provided details about the reported detention or stated whether charges have been filed.
The incident comes amid continued concerns from Afghan activists and rights groups over freedom of expression, artistic freedom and the treatment of individuals perceived as critical of or sympathetic to opponents of the Taliban.