KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban security authorities in Takhar province, northeastern Afghanistan, have confirmed the death of a Chinese national, who was shot by unidentified armed assailants in the region.
Mohammad Akbar Haqqani, spokesperson for the Taliban security command in Takhar, identified the victim as Li, who was fatally shot on Tuesday evening, January 21, in the Khwaja Bahauddin district.
Haqqani said, “The Chinese citizen was traveling to an unknown destination with his interpreter last night, without informing Chinese and security officials. Unfortunately, he was killed by unidentified individuals on the way to Dasht-e-Qala in Takhar province.” He added that the interpreter was not harmed in the incident.
“The police have started their initial investigation. Stay tuned for more details,” he added.
Taliban authorities have not disclosed further details about the victim. However, local sources previously reported that Li had been working at a gold mine in the area. He was reportedly out to finalize a deal for the sale of gold. After receiving $20,000 from the deal, he was fatally shot by assailants, who took the money and fled the scene.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident, and Chinese officials have not yet commented.
Chinese nationals and companies are largely involved in the mining sector in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, particularly in the extraction of raw minerals such as gold. In recent years, Chinese companies have signed several major mining contracts with the Taliban.
This tragic incident highlights the growing security concerns and criminal activities across Afghanistan, which continue to claim the lives of Afghans and, in some cases, foreign nationals.
