Date: 12/12/1403

House Searches and Security Harassment of Residents in Taloqan
Local sources in Takhar Province reported that Taliban forces conducted house-to-house searches in multiple areas of Taloqan City on Friday and Saturday, with operations reportedly continuing into the following days. According to sources, Taliban personnel searched homes in areas surrounding the Taliban intelligence directorate and the Aq Masjid area of the city. Residents reported that Taliban forces established checkpoints approximately 100 meters from the affected neighborhoods, where vehicles and individuals were stopped and inspected. Local sources stated that the searches were carried out amid Taliban concerns over an increase in armed attacks in Takhar Province. Residents also reported heightened fear following a recent incident in which a young man reportedly died as a result of Taliban torture in Taloqan. His body was buried in Takhar the previous day. As of the time of reporting, no official justification or legal basis for the searches had been announced by the Taliban.

The intensified house searches and security operations carried out by Taliban forces in Taloqan City reflect the use of coercive surveillance and collective intimidation as tools of urban control. Conducted without transparency, warrants, or publicly stated legal justification, the searches and checkpoints intrude into private life and restrict freedom of movement, while reinforcing a climate of fear among residents. The continuation of these operations in the context of recent reports of torture-related deaths further heightens concerns regarding arbitrary enforcement, abuse of power, and the absence of meaningful safeguards for civilians. Such practices contribute to the erosion of personal security, privacy, and trust in any form of lawful process.