Criticism Over Taliban’s Display Gunfire Amid Rising Poverty in Afghanistan
As poverty and hardship deepen across the country, numerous social media users have condemned the Taliban administration’s display gunfire as irresponsible and insulting to the dire living conditions of the people. They argue that while many residents struggle to secure their daily bread, the showy use of public arms funds adds insult to injury.
Critics contend that in a nation where a large portion of the population faces severe economic pressure, expending thousands of Afghanis worth of ammunition to fire into the air is not only unethical but also contradicts Islamic teachings. They emphasize that public funds should be allocated toward public welfare and poverty reduction, not armed displays.
According to these users, every bullet fired into the air eventually returns to the ground as ‘stray bullets’—bullets that have previously caused injuries and fatalities among civilians, especially women and children. They believe that continuing such behavior endangers the safety of residents.
Others have raised concerns that some armed individuals affiliated with the Taliban administration, after the cessation of active conflicts, persist in warlike conduct rather than focusing on security and public service, using public resources for theatrical purposes.
These criticisms arise amid prior reports of similar gunfire incidents in several provinces, which in some cases resulted in casualties and property damage for civilians. Given the country’s fragile economic and security situation, citizens demand accountability and responsible management of the Taliban administration’s resources and weapons.
