Concerns Rise Over Security as Taliban Disarms Guards at Shia Mosques in Herat

The Taliban’s decision to collect civilian weapons and disarm guards at Shia mosques and shrines in provinces like Herat has sparked serious concerns about potential security gaps…

Disarmament and Security Concerns

Since the Taliban regained power, extensive operations to collect military weapons have been launched across Afghanistan, particularly affecting homes and non-governmental organizations. A contentious aspect of this initiative has been the disarmament of local and community guards at Shia mosques in Herat and other areas. These weapons had been distributed in 1396 (2017) under the decree of the former government’s National Security Council to protect sites at risk of threats. The removal of these arms without a replacement strategy or alternative security forces has heightened fears among residents of potential new crimes.

A Bloody Calendar of Attacks on Religious Sites in Herat

A review of security incidents reveals that Herat has witnessed a wave of targeted shootings in the latter part of last year and recent months. Notable examples include an attack in late April on the shrine of Syed Mohammad Qayum Sabz Posh in the Enjil district, resulting in 11 deaths and 11 injuries; gunfire directed at worshippers in the Mohammadia neighborhood of the Guzara district in May, with 6 fatalities; and a series of targeted killings of prominent Shia clerics, such as Eyd Mohammad Etemadi, Rajab Ali Akhlaqi, and Mohammad Taqi Sadeqi, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.

The Geographic Scope of Terrorism; From Mazar-i-Sharif to Kunduz and Baghlan

The security threats against the Shia community are not confined to the west of the country. Over the past five years, significant mosques such as the 3-Dokan Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, which suffered over 30 deaths and 90 injuries, the Imam Zaman Mosque in Pul-e Khumri, the Imam Bargah Mosque in Kandahar, and the Seyyedabad Mosque in Kunduz have all been sites of deadly suicide bombings, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

Targeting Shrines and the Consequences of Disarmament

In addition to Shia Muslims, followers of Sunni Sufi orders have also been victims of terrorist attacks, including a deadly incident at the Khalifa Sahib Mosque and Khanqah in Kabul, which resulted in 66 deaths, and gunfire at the shrine of Syed Padshah Agha Sadat in the Baghlan district, leading to 10 deaths. The persistence of these events, alongside the Taliban’s claims of ensuring comprehensive security, indicates that without the active and armed presence of local guards, religious sites remain vulnerable targets for extremist groups.