The Interior Ministry says that under the “Security Charter” program, government forces will intensify operations against criminal gangs and armed robbers.

The "Security Charter - Mobilizing the People in the Fight against Crime" program was launched by the government last week. The government has said the plan is the biggest security plan of its kind, to date.

As part of the plan, Kabul police launched an operation in Paghman district on Wednesday night against one of the organized groups involved in most of the capital's criminal incidents.

The general director of crime investigation and crime-fighting at the Ministry of Interior, Jamshed Totakhil, said that during the operation two people were arrested.

“It is an organized group that is suspected of perpetrating most of the criminal cases in Kabul, especially robbery, murder, extortion and looting,” said Totakhil.

The detainees spoke to TOLOnews:

“I knew one of them [the criminals] was a bad man I do not know the others, nor have I seen them,” said Lal Agha, one detainee.

“Not a single bullet was found in my house. If a bullet is found, I am ready to be fined,” said Mohammad Iqbal, another detainee.

Meanwhile, residents of the capital Kabul, however, accuse government forces of negligence in providing security and fighting crimes in the city.

“One of my friends came out of his house to go and get stuff from market, in front of all the people, and thieves came and (robbed) him; They took his mobile phone while everyone was watching,” said Mahmood, a resident of Kabul.

Kabul city is the most populous city in the country and it also has witnessed the highest number of criminal incidents compared to other cities in Afghanistan.