Development council chief shot dead by Taliban in Badghis

The Taliban militants have gunned down chief of a development council of Qadis district in the western Badghis province, a local official confirmed to Kabul Now.

The militants have kidnapped Mohammad Arif, chief of development council of Sultanha village, from his house and then shot him dead around 06:00 PM, late yesterday, February 06, said Mirza Ali Bedar, district governor of Qadis district.

He detailed that the incident took place three kilometers away from the office of the district governor and the Taliban regularly patrol in the area overnight. Though the council chief had been repeatedly informed about the threats against him, he did not moved from the area, the local official added.

The Taliban, however, have not commented regarding the incident so far.

The Taliban have recently resorted to target killing, kidnappings, and assassinating pro-government elders.

Afghan defense and security forces have released four civilians from a Taliban prison in the southern Helmand province. The civilians were released in Passab village of Helmand’s Grishk district, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement issued today, February 07.

Few days ago, Afghan commandos released 32 people, including 12 military forces and 20 civilians, from a Taliban prison in the northern Baghlan province.