Heavy Taliban Deployment Reported Across Herat

DID Press: Taliban authorities have imposed extraordinary security measures across Herat to prevent potential anti-government protests, according to eyewitnesses and local sources, who reported the deployment of both uniformed forces and plainclothes operatives throughout the city.

Witnesses said suspicious civilian vehicles carrying men in ordinary clothing were visible across Herat, monitoring public activity and movements.

Local sources said the Taliban began deploying special units, armored vehicles, and tanks at strategic locations across the city on Thursday evening following calls for demonstrations over the detention of women in Herat.

According to the sources, roads leading to the provincial administration compound, Maaref Square, areas surrounding the sports stadium, and routes near the prison were closed to civilian traffic on Friday.

A reporter for AFP also described a heavy security presence in the city, saying armed police officers were patrolling on motorcycles while Taliban intelligence personnel had been stationed at additional checkpoints.

Sources further alleged that Taliban authorities inspected the mobile phones of teachers at several schools on Wednesday and detained three educators.