Local sources in Taloqan, Sheberghan, and Maimana, the provincial capitals of the northern Afghan provinces of Takhar, Jawzjan, and Faryab respectively, said that Taliban forces have started conducting extensive house-to-house searches.
The sources say that since early on Monday, the 29th of August, about a thousand Taliban forces have dispersed across Maimana city, the central district of Faryab province, and have begun searching homes.
Residents of Sheberghan, the provincial capital of Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan also stated that the Taliban’s checkpoints in the city have reportedly grown, with Taliban members conducting thorough searches of people’s houses.
Local media quoted a resident in Sheberghan city stating that hundreds of Taliban members have been divided into streets searching houses “one by one.”
According to the Taliban chief of police in Jawzjan province the searches are conducted by the Taliban forces to ensure the security of the people.
The Taliban forces have reportedly begun checking people’s homes beginning in Taloqan City’s police district 4, according to sources in the province’s capital of Takhar, with their focus on the former military members.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of power, there was a strong reaction from human rights advocates and civil society organizations to the initial round of house searches in Kabul. The Taliban were also criticized for invading people’s privacy.
