Since the fall of Kabul on August 15, a new round of assassinations and terrorist attacks has begun in the country. The military and employees of the former government were the main victims of these assassinations. They have no security anywhere in Afghanistan. Assassinations of soldiers, tribal elders and civilians are reported daily from different parts of the country. In the last two days alone, at least four people have been assassinated in different parts of the country. The suspects include a former criminal in the Ghor district of Shahrak, a doctor in Herat, a tribal elder in Parwan and another in Kabul's third security district. Unidentified gunmen and Taliban members were behind the killings.
In addition to organized assassinations, terrorist attacks and roadside mines in cities and villages have claimed victims. Kabul and Nangarhar witness one or more explosions almost every day. In each blast, several civilians were killed and wounded. In the latest case, an explosion in Kabul's Parwan district on Thursday evening, the 4th of Qaws, killed one person and injured several others. However, contrary to the period of republican order, many details of terrorist incidents and attacks remain unsaid, and the media, as in the past, do not have the context and possibility to access and reflect information. Undoubtedly, the actual death toll is much higher than what is confirmed and published by the spokespersons and officials of the Taliban-led government.
In one case, a survey by the 8 Sobh newspaper showed that 17 people had been assassinated in Ghor province alone since the Taliban took office. These include members of the army and the former government. Most of the victims were targeted at night. Many of these assassinations have also been attributed to unidentified gunmen. In response to a number of these assassinations, the Taliban have spoken out and given no clarity. It is not unlikely that the actual number of victims will exceed this and that the organized assassinations of individuals will continue.
Ghor province is just one example. In the past three months, retaliatory killings have continued in all Afghan provinces. Even before the fall of the previous government, Taliban fighters and unidentified gunmen fired on the military and civilians with vengeful intentions in various provinces. These killings have intensified with the rise of the Taliban. One possibility is that Taliban members and commanders are using the existing security vacuum to carry out targeted assassinations and seek revenge against members of the former army and government. At least one similar incident took place in Takhar province last month.
The Taliban, meanwhile, face disregard in the face of ongoing terrorist attacks and assassinations of army members, judges, tribal elders, ordinary people and former government employees. Typically, spokesmen and officials of the Taliban-led government, in general, describe the events as insignificant and limited, and describe the situation as normal. In the Taliban's view, casualties are low and the security situation is under control. For this reason, assassinations are often denied and the nature of explosions and terrorist attacks is repeatedly reversed. One of the reasons why the media did not cover the assassinations and explosions was the Taliban's approach to assassinations and explosions. If the field of access to more information and the possibility of free media work and activity becomes more favorable, many unspoken narratives will undoubtedly come out from different parts of the country.
The fact is that in the last three months, the lives and property of the people have not been safe from attack. Contrary to the Taliban's claim of ending the war in the country and announcing their general amnesty, ordinary people, tribal elders and members of the former army and government have not been safe anywhere. Due to the security situation, the feeling of insecurity will increase with the increase of assassinations and explosive attacks.
People have felt the security vacuum with their skin and bones. In the absence of responsible institutions, people have no place to take refuge. People do not know who or what institution to call for help if they encounter suspicious people. Apparently, those behind the assassinations and explosions understand this helplessness and helplessness of the people well and organize and carry out their attacks safely.
The Taliban-led government, as the structure that controls Afghanistan, is responsible for the lives and property of the people. The situation is not controlled by distortion and censorship of information. The "fear" that has gripped society, at least so far, has prevented widespread and serious popular uprisings and protests against the poor security situation and destructive poverty, but in the long run this "taboo" will certainly not work and will break. The government of fear does not last.