RASC News Agency: While the Taliban claim to have restored order and stability in Afghanistan, the reality in Kabul paints a vastly different picture. The Afghanistan’s capital has seen an alarming rise in unlicensed vehicles, primarily operated by Taliban militants, moving unchecked through the city. These vehicles openly violate traffic laws, intimidate civilians, and engage in various unlawful activities with complete impunity. Eyewitness accounts and on-the-ground observations reveal that these unregistered vehicles, often driven at reckless speeds, navigate Kabul’s streets without any regulatory oversight. Not only do they disregard traffic regulations, but they also respond to any objection with threats and violence. A resident of Karte Naw, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a recent incident to RASC News Agency:
“I saw one of these vehicles speeding through a narrow alley. When a regular driver asked them to slow down, armed Taliban members exited the vehicle and brutally assaulted him. No one dared to intervene because everyone knows they are beyond accountability.” Despite the Taliban’s claims of ensuring security since their takeover, many Kabul residents argue the opposite, asserting that the group has not only failed to enforce law and order but has itself become a major source of instability. A taxi driver, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, voiced his frustration:
“These unlicensed vehicles are everywhere. No one knows where they come from or who exactly owns them, but it is clear they belong to armed Taliban fighters. If an accident occurs, even if they are at fault, it is the ordinary citizens who suffer. There is no legal authority to address these injustices.” A shopkeeper in the Dehmazang area expressed deep concerns about the Taliban’s growing impunity:
“They stop wherever they please, block roads, and even take people hostage. If anyone dares to object, they face immediate threats and violence. Even women and children are not spared from their harassment.”
Security analysts warn that the unchecked movement of these vehicles could escalate criminal activities such as kidnappings, robberies, drug trafficking, and other organized crimes. The lack of oversight, they argue, has provided criminal elements with a free hand, pushing Kabul further into lawlessness. A security affairs analyst in Kabul, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told RASC News Agency:
“The Taliban operate as though they are above the law. Their unlicensed vehicles are merely a symptom of a deeper crisis one that underscores their lack of a coherent security strategy. If this situation continues, it will further destabilize Kabul and potentially give rise to new criminal factions.”
The continued unrestricted movement of Taliban-operated unlicensed vehicles in Kabul is a glaring testament to the collapse of governance and the absence of accountability. Despite mounting public outcry, the Taliban have taken no meaningful action to address the issue. Instead, their inaction suggests tacit approval of these lawless activities. As Kabul descends further into disorder, a critical question emerges: If the Taliban themselves are the primary violators of the law, where can the people turn for justice and security?
