Kabul : Taliban According to residents, Afghans are conducting extensive house searches around the capital, a policy the group’s spokesman said was aimed at detecting criminal activity, but some Western diplomats said they had targeted civilians.
Taliban Administration Spokesperson zabihullah mujahidi said the searches were part of a “clearing operation” and the homes were raided only if there were any specific reports of potential criminal activity.
“The operation is not just against anybody, it is against kidnappers, professional thieves and crime groups,” he told a news conference on Sunday.
Mujahid said officers seized weapons in the raid, which led to the arrest of dozens of criminals and six members of the Islamic State terrorist group.
Reuters spoke to seven residents around Kabul, whose names are not being published for security reasons, who said the searches appeared to be indiscriminate and spreading fear.
A resident of northwest Kabul said he was expecting the Taliban to arrive on Monday, meaning his father had to stay home from work with female family members.
“We’re not happy… I don’t want them to enter our house, I don’t want them to see my sisters, I don’t want them to search my clothes cabinet and my documents. I don’t want them to search my To harass the mother,” he said.
Another Kabul resident, who was visited by Taliban officials, said they were disrespectful by not following the tradition of removing shoes when entering a house.
“They broke into our house with their shoes on, they went everywhere,” said the person.
The ambassadors of the European Union and Germany also criticized the operation.
Germany’s designated ambassador to Afghanistan, Marcus Potzel, said in a tweet on Monday: “I am concerned by reports of home searches, threats, violence against ‘criminals’ in and around Kabul.” “As it turns out, it mostly affects ordinary citizens.”
Ever since the Islamic group took over the country in August, observers have warned of emerging signs of crackdown on dissent and retaliation against former security force members and activists.
Fears for the safety of prominent women and vocal opponents of the Taliban have grown ever since the Islamic group took over the country and international agencies and governments have expressed concern over the disappearance of several female activists in recent months.
The Taliban denies targeted retaliation and says it is investigating reports of violence and disappearances.
A spokesman for Kabul’s Taliban commander said that as a “military operation” his police were allowed to wear shoes, only female police would search women’s items and religious representatives from the area would accompany the police during searches.
The Mujahid said on Sunday that they would investigate any case of alleged “abuse”.
European Union ambassador Andreas von Brandt said searches at homes should stop immediately.
“We are watching you despite Putin’s war,” he said in a tweet, referring to Russiaattack of Ukraine,
Taliban Administration Spokesperson zabihullah mujahidi said the searches were part of a “clearing operation” and the homes were raided only if there were any specific reports of potential criminal activity.
“The operation is not just against anybody, it is against kidnappers, professional thieves and crime groups,” he told a news conference on Sunday.
Mujahid said officers seized weapons in the raid, which led to the arrest of dozens of criminals and six members of the Islamic State terrorist group.
Reuters spoke to seven residents around Kabul, whose names are not being published for security reasons, who said the searches appeared to be indiscriminate and spreading fear.
A resident of northwest Kabul said he was expecting the Taliban to arrive on Monday, meaning his father had to stay home from work with female family members.
“We’re not happy… I don’t want them to enter our house, I don’t want them to see my sisters, I don’t want them to search my clothes cabinet and my documents. I don’t want them to search my To harass the mother,” he said.
Another Kabul resident, who was visited by Taliban officials, said they were disrespectful by not following the tradition of removing shoes when entering a house.
“They broke into our house with their shoes on, they went everywhere,” said the person.
The ambassadors of the European Union and Germany also criticized the operation.
Germany’s designated ambassador to Afghanistan, Marcus Potzel, said in a tweet on Monday: “I am concerned by reports of home searches, threats, violence against ‘criminals’ in and around Kabul.” “As it turns out, it mostly affects ordinary citizens.”
Ever since the Islamic group took over the country in August, observers have warned of emerging signs of crackdown on dissent and retaliation against former security force members and activists.
Fears for the safety of prominent women and vocal opponents of the Taliban have grown ever since the Islamic group took over the country and international agencies and governments have expressed concern over the disappearance of several female activists in recent months.
The Taliban denies targeted retaliation and says it is investigating reports of violence and disappearances.
A spokesman for Kabul’s Taliban commander said that as a “military operation” his police were allowed to wear shoes, only female police would search women’s items and religious representatives from the area would accompany the police during searches.
The Mujahid said on Sunday that they would investigate any case of alleged “abuse”.
European Union ambassador Andreas von Brandt said searches at homes should stop immediately.
“We are watching you despite Putin’s war,” he said in a tweet, referring to Russiaattack of Ukraine,
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