KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban security command in Herat province says that a young man in the center of the province was killed while trying to prevent his vehicle from being stolen.
Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for the Taliban’s security command in Herat, said today (Wednesday, 24 June) that the young man was killed about eight days ago in the fourth police district of Herat city.
He added that an armed robber, after entering the young man’s car, demanded that he hand over the vehicle. When the victim refused to give up his car, the robber shot and killed him.
According to the spokesperson for the Taliban security command in Herat, the suspect in the killing has now been identified and arrested.
He did not provide the identities of either the victim or the suspect.
In recent months, armed robberies have seen a relatively significant increase in various cities across the country, raising public concern.
These robberies are taking place while the Taliban claim to have ensured nationwide security.
A report published in March 2026 by the Afghan human rights organization Rawadari recorded at least 611 cases of targeted, suspicious or extrajudicial killings and injuries across Afghanistan in 2025. That figure represents a more than 40% rise compared with the previous year. The victims included former government employees, people suspected of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders, and other civilians.
The report also highlighted a sharp increase in arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. At least 2,559 people were unlawfully detained in 2025, more than double 2024’s figure of 885 and four times higher than 2023. Detainees included 138 former government employees, 77 civil society members and human rights defenders, including seven women, and 192 individuals accused of links to opposition groups.
The Taliban authorities claim to have restored stability and security nationwide since taking power in 2021. However, residents, civil society activists, and international human rights groups have raised persistent concerns about the authorities’ ability to protect ordinary civilians, conduct credible and transparent investigations, and ensure justice for victims of violence.
Furthermore, these incidents reflect an ongoing pattern of insecurity and lack of accountability, raising concerns among residents about personal safety and the continuation of unresolved criminal cases across different regions of Afghanistan.
This incident reflects the broader concerns about public safety and the lack of transparent investigations into violent crimes in Afghanistan, where many cases remain unresolved and perpetrators often go unidentified.
