KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A young man has been shot dead by unidentified armed men in Herat province, western Afghanistan, local sources report.
The victim, identified as Homayoon, was gunned down on Friday, March 28, while shopping for Eid al-Fitr in Herat city’s fifth district. The attackers reportedly fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, and local Taliban authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
The killing is part of a disturbing rise in mysterious killings and criminal activity in Afghanistan, which has seen a surge in such cases in recent years. Despite the Taliban’s repeated claims that they have restored security since their return to power, the increasing number of these killings has left citizens fearful for their safety.
According to figures compiled by KabulNow, in February alone, at least 25 people, including women and young girls, were mysteriously killed across the country.
In its 2024 annual report recently released, Rawadari, a London-based human rights group, documented the killing and injury of at least 435 people, including women and children, in targeted, mysterious, and extrajudicial attacks carried out by Taliban members or unidentified individuals. The report indicates a 1.6% increase compared to the figures from 2023.
Human rights groups and activists have criticized the Taliban for failing to ensure security and investigate these incidents thoroughly.
