Measures against looting: Taliban leaders forbid fighters from raiding their homes

Tuesday 17 August 2021

measures against robbery
Taliban leaders stop terrorists from raiding their homes

After the conquest of Kabul, the Taliban tried to maintain public order. A senior leader of the Islamic militia has forbidden his fighters from entering civilian homes. This is to avoid looting in the Afghan capital.

The deputy chief of the militant Islamist Taliban has instructed militia fighters not to enter private homes in the Afghan capital Kabul. Under no circumstances should anyone enter people’s homes or take their vehicles, according to an audio message to Taliban leader Mullah Jacob published by local TV station Tolonnews. If any officer or person does this, it is a “betrayal of the system” and they are held accountable.

Mullah Jakoob is the son of the founder of the Taliban, Mullah Omar. Since 2020 he heads the Taliban’s military commission, to which all militia commanders report.

The background of the message is clearly that since the de facto takeover of power by the Taliban in Kabul, there has been an increase in reports that Taliban fighters gained access to homes and took cars with them. At the same time, many Kabul residents also said that ordinary criminals took advantage of the Taliban’s arrival and arguably pretended to be Taliban.

Fear of revenge and robbery

On Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Sabiullah Mujahid said on Twitter that no one would barge into the homes of former government officials, threaten them or take their cars. Especially those who have worked for the government or foreigners, are deeply concerned that the Taliban may come into their homes to take revenge on them or loot their property.

The Taliban captured the entire country in a victorious march over the past few weeks. The speed apparently came as a surprise to him as well. They are slow to capture officers. Over the past few days, the Taliban have repeatedly recalled the apology the Taliban leadership had announced earlier and called on people, including women, to return to their jobs.