Several residents from the southern provinces are expressing serious concern over the rise in thefts and criminal offenses in these provinces. They say that despite the Taliban’s claims of ensuring security, they have failed to protect the lives and property of the people. According to them, widespread poverty and severe unemployment have contributed to the rising crime rate in the southern region. Some residents of Kandahar, Zabul, and Helmand provinces emphasize that no one is safe on the streets or in the alleys. Armed robberies, beatings, vehicle theft, kidnapping, murder, and armed clashes are cited as among the most serious current security challenges in these provinces. At the same time, sources express deep concern over the rising number of cases involving missing children and suicide. Findings by the Hasht-e Subh Daily show that over the past month, at least 37 children have gone missing in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, and Zabul provinces; 18 cases were recorded in Kandahar, 12 in Helmand, four in Uruzgan, and three in Zabul. Some of these children have been found, but the fate of others remains unknown.
Mohammad Rashid, a resident of Helmand who owns a mobile phone shop in Lashkar Gah city, says that some time ago, thieves broke into his shop at night and took all the goods inside. He adds that the shop was his only source of income to support his family’s needs, and the thieves looted it entirely.
Mohammad Rashid says his shop is located in the city center, in an important and secure area, yet it was not spared from thieves. He says: “Thieves came at night and took everything in my shop; nothing was left for me. This was my only source of income, and I had nowhere else to turn. My shop was located right next to a Taliban post. I don’t know how much courage the thieves have gained to rob my shop in such an important area.”
Mohammad Afzal, a resident of the fourth district of Kandahar city, also complains about the rise in thefts and criminal offenses in the province, saying that thefts in his area are increasing day by day. He says that about a month ago, he had parked his car in front of his house when thieves came at night, removed the tires, took them, and left the car behind.
According to him, the thefts occurring in Kandahar under Taliban control are unprecedented in recent decades. He says: “Our car was parked in front of the house. The thieves came, removed the tires, and left. Very strange thefts happen here. We had never before seen such a high rate of theft and criminal incidents.”
A resident of Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, says that a car belonging to a man named Haji Mohammad Rahim was stolen from in front of his house on September 1. He says that thefts have also increased in Zabul, with thieves entering people’s homes at night in both rural and urban areas and fleeing the scene after stealing.
This resident of Zabul adds that the Taliban arrest dozens of thieves along with evidence, but release them again after a few days in detention. He believes that the Taliban have colluded with the thieves and want to use them to pressure ordinary people. He calls on senior Taliban officials to investigate the thefts occurring in their area.
He says: “In our area, the rate of theft is increasing day by day. It has been about a month since my car was stolen, but I still have no information about it. When the Taliban arrest thieves, they release them again after a few days, because the Taliban themselves are colluding with the thieves.”
Disappearance of Children
Alongside the thefts, cases of disappearances and abductions, particularly of children, have also increased in the southern region in recent days, causing concern among the public. In recent days, numerous reports of missing children and the publication of missing person notices have been recorded and released in Kandahar.
The findings of this report show that over the past month, 18 children have gone missing in Kandahar, 12 in Helmand, four in Uruzgan, and three in Zabul. Some of them have been found, but the fate of others remains entirely unknown.
Habibullah, a resident of Helmand, says that a large number of missing individuals have been found, but there have also been cases where individuals were kidnapped by abductors and later released in exchange for a sum of money paid by their families.
This resident of Helmand says that kidnapping has now become a normal occurrence, and thieves and kidnappers are boldly carrying out thefts and abductions. He adds: “The situation is now very bad. They kidnap young children and, a few days later, hand them back to their families in exchange for money.”
Ezatullah, a resident of Kandahar and civil activist, says that violent incidents carried out by armed groups occur not only at night but also in broad daylight in the city’s streets, and that this situation has negatively affected people’s daily lives. He says the Taliban do not allow traders and ordinary people to ensure their own security, but according to him, the Taliban also lack the capacity to fully carry out their responsibility of ensuring public security.
This resident of Kandahar adds: “In recent weeks, criminal offenses, theft, and highway robbery have sharply increased. Armed thieves enter people’s homes and shops and take their valuables at gunpoint. We call on Taliban officials to take this matter seriously.”
Safiullah, a resident of the first district of Kandahar city, says that a few months ago, his brother was kidnapped by thieves and later released in exchange for 300,000 Afghanis. He adds that, out of fear that the kidnappers would harm his brother, his family paid the money quietly and secretly, after which the kidnappers released him.
This resident of Kandahar says that while physical security exists, people are being forced by economic hardship to resort to wrongful actions of all kinds. He says: “About four months ago, thieves kidnapped my brother and then released him in exchange for 300,000 Afghanis. To prevent the kidnappers from harming my brother, I secretly paid the money, and they released him.”
Suicide
Another major problem in this region is the rise in suicide cases. The father of a young man in Uruzgan province says that his son took his own life due to unemployment. He says his son searched for work for six months but could not earn even a single Afghani, and eventually, after facing numerous hardships, ended his life.
This man adds that his son had graduated from university and had worked for a time as a teacher at a private educational center, but after losing that job, he took his own life. He says: “My son searched extensively for work in Uruzgan province but could not find any. After facing many difficulties, he took his own life, and now his entire family remains behind for me.”
Precise statistics on suicide in this region are not published due to a lack of access to information. In addition, many families describe these incidents as natural deaths.
Following the reporting of suicide cases, the Taliban have instructed local journalists and local network activists to prevent the publication of such news.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
افزایش دزدی و ناپدیدشدن کودکان؛ در سایه هبتالله در جنوب چه میگذرد؟
