KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Unknown assailants shot and killed the imam of a local mosque in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, Taliban authorities say, the latest in a series of mysterious killings reported across the country in recent weeks.
Sayed Tayeb Hamad, spokesperson for the Taliban police command in Nangarhar, said the incident took place in Nangarhar’s Surkh Rod district on Wednesday night, April 29.
The motive for the killing remains unknown. Hamad said a suspect has been arrested and an investigation is ongoing. He did not disclose the victim’s name or provide further details.
Local sources told KabulNow that unknown armed men entered the imam’s home and shot him dead on the spot.
The killing is the latest in a series of mysterious incidents reported in Afghanistan in recent months. Over the past month, at least eight other killings have been recorded, including the murder of a driver in Kandahar, the discovery of a young man’s body in Ghazni province, the killing of a young man in Jowzjan, and the stabbing death of a private bank manager in Kabul.
Residents in several provinces have reported growing concerns about safety as cases of violent crime, including killings, armed robberies, and abductions, continue to surface.
The Taliban claim they have restored security across Afghanistan since their return to power in 2021. However, ordinary Afghans, activists, and rights groups continue to voice concerns about the authorities’ ability to protect civilians, conduct transparent and effective investigations into such crimes, and bring perpetrators to justice.
