Since August 15, 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, the group has repeatedly claimed in meetings with United Nations officials and in press briefings that nationwide security has been ensured across the country.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s administrative deputy prime minister, has in dozens of press briefings described nationwide security as one of the group’s achievements over the past four years and has assured the public—particularly businesspeople—of its provision.
Similarly, other Taliban officials have described “security of life, property, and culture” as one of the regime’s fundamental responsibilities, stating that the Taliban remain committed to fulfilling this duty.
However, contrary to the Taliban’s claims, the reality on the ground tells a different story: a rise in killings and abductions of civilians.
In the latest incident, yesterday’s human tragedy in Herat shows that terrorist groups remain on the lookout, ready to seize even the slightest opportunity to carry out attacks—particularly against civilians.
Preliminary figures following the attack indicate that at least 35 people were killed and injured, with several of the wounded reported to be in critical condition. The Islamic State group (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack.
This comes as, in a deadly attack on a Chinese restaurant in the Gul-Foroshi area of Shahr-e Naw, Kabul, on January 18, 2026 (68 days ago), at least eight people were killed and 13 others injured. The Islamic State group (ISIS) also claimed responsibility for that bloody attack.
Over more than four years of Taliban rule in the country—despite claims of “nationwide security”—dozens of deadly attacks, mostly targeting civilians, have taken place, leaving hundreds of people killed and injured.
At the same time as these deadly terrorist incidents, armed robberies and muggings have also raised serious concerns. Armed individuals are ruthlessly emptying people’s pockets at gunpoint.
Yesterday (Friday, April 10), local sources confirmed to Voice of Afghan Women that dozens of residents in western Kabul were targeted in an armed robbery. According to the sources, 12 armed men seized cash and smartphones from residents in the area at gunpoint.
Local sources added that residents of western Kabul had gone for recreation to the Dara-e Bui area, near the Junbish-e Shuhada-e Roshanayi hill in District 18, when 12 armed men robbed them and emptied their pockets.
In a similar incident about two weeks ago (Monday, March 23), four armed men dressed in military uniforms and carrying Kalashnikov rifles and handguns entered a jewelry shop in Faryab province and opened fire on two of the shop’s owners.
Videos circulating on social media show that the armed robbers first shot one of the shop’s owners before proceeding to steal the gold.
About a week before this incident, Irfan Barzgar, a resident of Kunduz province, wrote that armed robbers had opened fire on two residents of the Hazarbagh area in Takhar province.
According to him, following the incident, the armed robbers made off with 8 million Afghanis in cash. Barzgar added that those killed were involved in the gold trade.
Five days ago, another Facebook user named Haji Jawad wrote that armed robbers had stolen one kilogram of gold and 6.6 million Afghanis in the Shahr-e Bozorg district of Badakhshan province.
According to the user, on Sunday night (April 4), armed robbers first entered Haji Mohammad Azim’s jewelry shop and stole three million Afghanis. They then broke into a nearby money exchange shop, where they took around one kilogram of gold and 3.6 million Afghanis.
The above-mentioned cases are examples of terrorist incidents, insecurity, and a rise in criminal activity that the Taliban authorities have either failed to contain and manage, or are unwilling to bring under control.
Many analysts and citizens believe that these terrorist incidents and armed robberies are carried out in collusion with members of the Taliban authorities. They say the regime is playing a role in destabilizing cities and the killing of innocent people.
Others, however, say that even if members of the Taliban are not directly involved in these incidents, they are at least responsible, as the ruling authority, for protecting the lives and property of citizens.
However, evidence suggests that following these criminal incidents and the killing of civilians, none of the perpetrators have been arrested so far—a development that has fueled speculation about collusion between the Taliban and those behind the attacks.
Photo credited: Internet
