Residents of Afghanistan, particularly in the capital, are expressing grave concerns over a surge in armed robberies and mysterious killings. Many Kabul residents say these incidents have robbed them of peace, placing their lives and property under serious threat. According to citizens, the Taliban not only fail to address this situation but also accuse people of engaging in “negative propaganda against their rule” when they report or publicize these events. Some residents believe that many of these robberies are carried out by armed individuals affiliated with the Taliban. They argue that committing such crimes without coordination or connection to the Taliban’s security apparatus would be impossible for ordinary people.
The Taliban have repeatedly claimed that they have ensured nationwide security in Afghanistan and that people’s lives and property are safe under their rule. However, residents of Kabul and several other provinces reject this claim, asserting that many of these robberies are perpetrated by individuals dressed as or acting in the name of the Taliban.
Fereshta (pseudonym), a Kabul resident, recounts that her neighbor’s house was targeted by robbers last week, with all their possessions looted. She says the robbers, dressed in ordinary clothing, knocked on the door and entered by claiming, “We are from the Islamic Emirate.” They demanded that the women in the household bring their gold and place it before them. Fereshta continues: “After taking the gold, they locked the door and confined a woman and three children in another house. They took everything from the house, leaving only a wall clock behind.”
This Kabul resident adds that the eldest daughter of the family was just days away from her wedding, and her entire dowry was stolen by the armed robbers. She says there were six robbers, and despite the victimized family reporting the incident to the Taliban’s local authorities, they received no response beyond “We will investigate,” with no action taken. Fereshta further notes that the neighborhood representative gathered residents and asked them to contribute whatever they could to help the affected family. She emphasizes: “Since then, one person from each household takes turns guarding the street during the day and another at night, even though there are security cameras.”
Nawrozi, another Kabul resident, expresses concern over the rise in robberies and mysterious killings in the capital, stating: “Last week, armed robbers attacked our neighbor’s house, tied up the wife and their three children, and calmly looted all their belongings. Then they fled in a Saracha-type vehicle.”
Another Kabul resident reports that unidentified individuals in the Taimani Project’s First Street area killed a teenager and fled the scene. According to him, the boy’s uncle, who attempted to take him to a hospital, was detained and tortured by the Taliban. The Taliban demanded that he take responsibility for the incident, promising his release after some time, but he refused to accept the false accusation.
Kabul residents across various parts of the city are voicing concerns about the increasing robberies and mysterious killings, emphasizing that their lives and property are not safe. They say that due to fear of the Taliban, they cannot even post funeral announcements for their loved ones on social media with details such as “killed by robbers.” Some citizens accuse the Taliban of involvement in these mysterious killings and stress that the group’s fighters are, in some cases, complicit in armed robberies.
A Kabul resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says: “Two weeks ago, in the Khairkhana area, a young man with three children, who was my brother’s brother-in-law, was killed by the Taliban at his home. His eldest child is only five years old, and the youngest is a 40-day-old infant. The situation for people is deeply worrying; no one can speak out due to fear.”
Many Kabul residents complain about the rise in robberies committed by individuals dressed as Taliban members. They say armed individuals in Taliban attire enter people’s homes, loot all their possessions, and in some cases, kill residents who resist. According to these citizens, the robbers show no mercy even to women without guardians, forcibly taking their meager belongings.
Mehria (pseudonym), another Kabul resident, says that a few days ago, robbers attacked her cousin’s house and plundered it. She explains that the woman was at work during the incident and had left her children at her mother’s house. When she returned home, she found it completely empty.
In addition to men, some Kabul residents complain of robberies committed by women. They say some women enter people’s homes under various pretexts and steal their belongings.
A resident of Macrorayan Four says, “In the red blocks, considered one of Kabul’s safest areas, several women entered a house under the pretense of attending a gathering and stole all its belongings.”
In recent days, a 24-year-old named Ahmad Samim was killed in an area under the Taliban’s Eighth Security District. Sources say Ahmad Samim was a student from Panjshir province and was killed by unidentified armed individuals. However, some Kabul residents hold the Taliban responsible for the killing and accuse them of involvement.
Previously, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed serious concern over the misuse of Taliban uniforms to carry out armed robberies, extortion, and unauthorized entry into people’s homes.
Human Rights Watch has also reported that some residents have said unidentified armed individuals, using the appearance and attire of Taliban forces, have engaged in robbery, threats, and intimidation of citizens.
The rise in armed and unarmed robberies, amid peak unemployment and the forced deportation of migrants from neighboring countries, has become a serious concern for citizens. Many residents say that the lack of job opportunities, ongoing unemployment, and widespread poverty have driven many to resort to looting and stealing people’s property.
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