Taliban Donations Soar in Pakistan Ahead of US Pullout From Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - Donations to the Afghan Taliban are on the upswing in Pakistan border regions as the militant group intensifies attacks against Afghan forces ahead of the U.S. troop withdrawal, locals told VOA.

Multiple sources and eyewitnesses on the ground with knowledge of these donations have confirmed to VOA that fundraising for the Taliban has continued in various parts of Pakistan. An informed resident of Duki, the capital of Baluchistan province some 148 kilometers east of Quetta  — told VOA that Afghan Taliban militants stay with coal miners in the nearby mountains and come to the bazaar area every Friday to solicit 5,000-10,000 Pakistani rupees ($50 to $70) from shopkeepers. "They are coming on motorbikes and asking larger stores for contributions. They say that they belong to the Taliban movement and that they are fighting in Allah's path," said the resident, who did not want to be named because he fears retaliation by the militants.