RASC News Agency: Several residents of Herat Province in western Afghanistan have reported an escalation in armed robberies in the region. Jalil Ahmad Farhadi, a local resident of Herat Province, informed RASC News Agency on Monday, Feb 19, that in recent months, armed robberies by unidentified individuals have surged in urban and suburban areas of the province.
The surge in armed robberies in Herat Province coincides with assertions by its residents that Taliban officials claim national security remains intact and there are no security issues. Jalil Ahmad observes that youth unemployment is increasing day by day, attributing one of the reasons for armed robberies to this issue. He notes that while armed robberies were prevalent in all areas during the previous government, they have assumed a new dimension under the Taliban regime.
Meanwhile, Jabar Hakimi, another resident of Herat Province, conveyed to RASC News Agency that robbery statistics have risen compared to the previous year. He added that during the initial days of the Taliban’s rule in Herat Province, security measures were relatively challenging, which gradually improved over time, but the current situation is deteriorating. On the other hand, Zaman Ashrafi, a civil activist in Herat Province, asserted to RASC News Agency that poverty and lack of employment opportunities are the primary factors behind armed robberies in western Afghanistan provinces.
Ashrafi emphasizes that many young people have either ended up in prison or lost their lives due to poverty and unemployment. He states that insecurity prevails under the Taliban regime, and a significant portion of the population is dissatisfied with this situation. Furthermore, Subhan Mahmmodi, an alias of one of the security affairs experts in western Afghanistan, confirms that Taliban security measures during their rule have not been fully effective, leading to an increase in criminal incidents in the country.
He alleges that the Taliban group is involved in various societal thefts and pursues its own interests. Mahmmodi continues to emphasize that the Taliban’s influence extends to all matters, and armed robberies have become a common occurrence. The Taliban group has yet to comment on this issue. According to reports, after the Taliban’s takeover, the rate of criminal activities, especially armed robberies, kidnappings, and targeted killings, has surged in various provinces.
