The Taliban have announced the launch of a DNA testing laboratory within the Ministry of Interior Affairs. According to the group, the facility has been established to support criminal investigations, identify suspects, and examine biological evidence, and it will be used in the process of handling judicial and criminal cases.
The Taliban-controlled Administrative Office announced in a statement on Wednesday, 17 Saratan, that the laboratory was inaugurated under the Criminal Technical Directorate of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. According to the statement, the facility will be responsible for analyzing DNA samples and examining genetic evidence in criminal and judicial cases.
The Taliban stated that the laboratory will enable the comparison of genetic samples from suspected individuals with evidence collected from crime scenes. They said that the use of this technology could help security and judicial institutions identify perpetrators and facilitate the investigation of complex cases.
Norulhaq Anwar, the Taliban’s director general of the Administrative Office, said during the inauguration ceremony that the use of modern technologies and specialized equipment would enhance the capacity of relevant institutions in detecting, investigating, and proving crimes. He also emphasized that handling complex cases is difficult without advanced tools and technologies.
Afghanistan had previously gained access to DNA testing technology. The country’s first government-run DNA testing laboratory was established in 2019 (1398 in the Solar Hijri calendar) within the Ministry of Public Health under the former government. Officials at the time said that the technology could assist not only in identifying criminals and exonerating innocent individuals, but also in establishing identities, confirming family relationships, and conducting certain scientific investigations.
Before the establishment of such facilities, many Afghan citizens were required to send their samples abroad for DNA testing.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
