Residents of Kandahar say the increasing presence of armed Taliban personnel in civilian clothing has created widespread confusion, making it difficult to distinguish between members of the Taliban’s security apparatus and criminal gangs operating in the city.
According to residents, the movement of plainclothes armed men and the establishment of checkpoints by individuals not wearing official military uniforms have increased in recent weeks, raising concerns over public safety and accountability.
Several residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said armed men in civilian clothes routinely stop and search people at improvised checkpoints during both daytime and nighttime hours.
“We have no way of knowing whether they are security personnel or thieves,” one resident said, adding that criminal groups could easily exploit the situation by posing as Taliban members while carrying weapons.
Residents also claim that incidents of armed robbery have risen in recent months. According to their accounts, gunmen have been using green laser lights at night to stop vehicles, leading drivers to believe they are being intercepted by security forces before robbers seize their vehicles.
One resident said he had personally witnessed such incidents, explaining that laser lights are often used to imitate official security operations, only for victims to later discover they had been targeted by criminals.
Locals have urged the Taliban authorities to require all security personnel to wear clearly identifiable uniforms while on duty, arguing that doing so would help citizens distinguish legitimate security forces from armed criminals.
In recent months, several videos circulating online have purportedly shown armed robbers wearing military-style uniforms during thefts, including attacks on jewelry stores.
Residents have also alleged that, in some cases, officials affiliated with Taliban security districts have been accused of cooperating with criminal groups.
Among the reported incidents, armed men dressed in military uniforms allegedly robbed a jewelry store in Tashkarghan Bazaar on May 5, making off with gold ornaments. In another case on April 15, gunmen reportedly raided a garment workshop in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi area and stole around one million Afghanis belonging to workers. Sources claimed that although the suspects were initially detained following complaints by the workshop owners, they were later released with the alleged assistance of local security officials.
The Taliban’s Interior Ministry maintains that its security forces are actively combating theft and organized crime. Taliban authorities have announced multiple arrests in robbery and criminal cases and have stated that anyone found using military uniforms or equipment to commit crimes can face prosecution.
The reported incidents add to growing concerns over law and order in Afghanistan, where economic hardship, weak institutional oversight and limited transparency continue to fuel public insecurity. Although the Taliban repeatedly claim to have improved nationwide security since returning to power in 2021, reports from different parts of the country continue to highlight criminal activity, allegations of abuse by local officials and concerns over the absence of independent mechanisms to ensure accountability. The broader international community continues to engage Afghanistan primarily through humanitarian assistance while withholding formal recognition of the Taliban administration, citing concerns over governance, human rights and counterterrorism commitments.
