Taliban Conducts Horrible Raids Across Kabul That Spark Fear, Diplomatic Criticism While The World Is Focused on Ukraine Crisis

The Taliban in Afghanistan is conducting door-to-door raids as part of major search operations across Kabul as Russian soldiers continue their invasion of Ukraine.

At a press conference on Sunday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the search operations, which began on Friday, had led to the arrest of scores of kidnappers, smugglers, and criminals.

Taliban Launches Raids in Search of Weapons

Mujahid described the searches as "successful," saying the goal was to "gather firearms" across the city and its adjacent regions. Over 60,000 rounds of ammunition, 13 armored vehicles, 13 tonnes of gunpowder and explosives, as well as rocket launchers and grenades, were captured in the operations, according to the Taliban leader.

The Taliban claimed that nine kidnappers, six Isis militants, and 53 thieves were caught as a result of the operations. Two persons who had been kidnapped have also been released.

The door-to-door effort, however, was met with criticism, with numerous residents alleging that individuals were beaten up during the raids. On Saturday, a half-dozen Taliban gunmen with guns barged into the home of a Kabul laborer's wife for searches.

The guys reportedly took knives to the pillows that lined the family's sitting room, split them apart, and threw the filling on the floor, as well as yanking family portraits off shelves and throwing items from closets. When the Taliban gunmen discovered nothing in the family's home, they raped the laborer's adolescent son and seized the family car, Independent reported.

Observers have warned of signs of a crackdown on dissent and reprisals against former security force officers and activists since the Islamist group took control of the nation in August.

Since the Islamist organization assumed control of the country, fears for the safety of vocal Taliban opponents and notable women have grown, with foreign agencies and nations voicing concern about the disappearance of numerous female activists in recent months. The Taliban denies carrying out targeted retaliation and claims to be looking into accounts of violence and disappearances.

According to a spokeswoman for the Taliban commander in Kabul, their police were allowed to wear shoes during the search since it was a "military operation," that only female police would inspect women's things, and that religious official from the region would accompany the police.

In-accordance-with European Union Ambassador Andreas von Brandt Mujahid, stated on Sunday that any examples of alleged "misbehavior" would be investigated, and that home inspection should be stopped immediately, according to Reuters via MSN.

World Bank To Send $1 Billion Aid in Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the World Bank's executive board authorized a plan on Tuesday to utilize more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to fund education, agricultural, health, and family initiatives. The idea will give a huge boost to attempts to alleviate the country's deepening humanitarian and economic crises by circumventing sanctioned Taliban authority and disbursing money through UN agencies and other charity groups.

While foreign nations stopped providing financial help to Afghanistan, which accounted for more than 70% of government spending, the US spearheaded the freezing of $9 billion in Afghan central bank assets. The cuts hastened an economic collapse, resulting in a cash shortage and a humanitarian catastrophe that has put more than half of Afghanistan's 39 million people at risk of famine, according to the UN.

The World Bank stated in a statement that as a first step, donors will decide on four projects worth approximately $600 million that will address "critical needs in the education, health, and agricultural sectors, as well as community livelihoods." "Strong focus on ensuring that girls and women participate and benefit from the support," according to the statement.

Women's rights have been undermined since the Taliban came to power 20 years ago. Many of the privileges they won over the previous two decades, such as the freedom to work and travel without close male relatives, have been taken away from them.

Since the Taliban assumed power, most girls have been barred from continuing their education above seventh grade. According to Islamist fanatics, all females will be permitted to return to school later this month, as per WION.