Shopkeepers in Kabul Complain of Taliban Extortion.
Local sources in Kabul report that on Wednesday night, November 12, 2025, Taliban members sealed off several grocery stores and vehicle compounds in western Kabul and demanded money from their owners.
According to these sources, Taliban fighters, around 10 a.m., in the 18th police district, closed dozens of shops and several vehicle compounds, demanding payments ranging from 500 to 3,000 afghanis from each owner.
One shopkeeper, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Two armed Taliban entered my shop and shouted, ‘Either pay 2,000 afghanis or we’ll close your shop.’ I had no choice but to pay.”
He added that Taliban members often use excuses such as a lack of business licenses to extort money and threaten imprisonment for those who refuse to pay. Sources also reported that after the vehicle compounds were sealed, drivers had to park their cars along nearby streets.
The sources emphasized that the Taliban’s main objective is extortion, not law enforcement. They said that despite the worsening economic crisis and widespread poverty in Kabul, the Taliban continue to pressure ordinary citizens for money, making life even harder.
Previous reports have also indicated that several senior Taliban officials have been purchasing expensive properties and entering into second and third marriages.
