KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Unknown gunmen shot and killed a former ANDSF member in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province amid a rise in mysterious killings across the country.
Speaking with KabulNow today, a local source identified the former soldier as Abdul Zahir, who was killed in Lashkar Gah, the capital city of Helmand province, on the evening of Friday, August 9.
According to the source, Abdul Zahir served as a commander in the National Security Department in Helmand during the republic government. However, after the government’s collapse, he had been living a normal life with no affiliations to any group.
The motive for his murder remains unknown, and the perpetrators have yet to be identified.
The Taliban local authorities in Helmand have not yet commented on the incident.
This incident adds to a surge in mysterious killings and criminal activities across Afghanistan in recent years. The country’s citizens are increasingly concerned about their safety and security, which adds to the mounting challenges they face since the Taliban’s takeover, despite the Taliban’s claims of maintaining security.
Moreover, over nearly three years, the regime in power in Afghanistan has detained, tortured, and killed hundreds of former government officials and members of the previous security forces across the country.
Earlier this week, Taliban members shot and killed two former soldiers in Afghanistan’s eastern Parwan province, accusing them of collaborating with the Islamic State’s regional affiliate, IS-KP. Their relatives have denied these allegations.
Human rights organizations have criticized the Taliban for these actions, urging the group to respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, including former government soldiers.
