Taloqan in the Grip of Thieves; the City is Looted Every Night.
Residents of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, have reported a significant and unprecedented rise in urban and intercity thefts, noting that the wave of burglaries affecting homes and vehicles has reached a level that many describe as alarming and deeply concerning.
They say that almost every night multiple houses across different sections of the city are broken into, creating a highly tense and fearful atmosphere for the local population.
Citizens stress that nighttime security has effectively collapsed and that the constant threat of repeated thefts has become a source of persistent anxiety for families living in the city.
Many residents point to widespread poverty, growing unemployment, and a lack of economic opportunities as primary factors contributing to this crisis.
However, some also claim that certain individuals with ties to the Taliban are actively participating in these thefts, further complicating the security situation.
Residents argue that the arrests publicly announced by police stations and security commands under the label of apprehending thieves often do not reflect the reality on the ground and are mostly symbolic in nature.
They believe that the continuation of thefts despite these reported arrests indicates either systemic inefficiency or a lack of genuine political will to address the problem effectively.
One resident of Commando Alley in Taloqan stated bluntly, “Many of the measures announced are superficial and deceptive and do not address the root causes of the problem.”
He emphasized that the community is demanding practical, transparent, and accountable actions. Failure to implement such measures, he warned, could allow the rising insecurity to produce broader consequences for social stability and public trust in local authorities.
