KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Two men were reportedly killed by unknown gunmen in northern Faryab and western Herat provinces over the past two days, amid a recent surge in mysterious killings across Afghanistan.
Local sources in Herat province reported earlier today that unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on two young men, killing one and severely injuring the other. According to the sources, the incident took place in Herat’s 11th district on Tuesday.
In a similar incident in Faryab province, a 44-year-old man identified as Hamidullah was fatally shot by unknown assailants on Thursday evening, according to local Taliban authorities.
The motive behind these incidents remains unknown, and the perpetrators have yet to be identified.
These incidents add 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.
In its report published in August, Rawadari, a London-based rights group documenting human rights violations in Afghanistan, recorded 193 cases of killings or injuries in mysterious, targeted, and extrajudicial attacks over a six-month period. The victims included 181 men, 9 women, and 3 children.
The actual number, according to the rights group, may be much higher, as it was unable to document all cases due to the atmosphere of fear created by the Taliban, who exert pressure on victims’ families to keep such information hidden.
“The Taliban have consistently attributed the targeted, suspicious, and extrajudicial killings to unknown armed individuals and have assured the victims’ families of legal redress and accountability. However, over the past three years, they have failed to provide any information about their progress on arrests of perpetuators or delivery of justice,” Rawadari said.
“Additionally, the Taliban resorted to force, intimidation, and threats to prevent the dissemination of any information related to these incidents,” it added.
