KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Nangarhar say that a young man has died after a shooting incident in the Shinwar district of the province.
According to the sources, the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. last night (Tuesday, 31 March) in the “Wiyali 29” area of the district.
Sources said the cause of the incident was family disputes.
However, Sayed Tayeb Hamad, spokesperson for the Taliban’s police command in Nangarhar, rejected claims that it was intentional. He stated that the young man accidentally shot himself with a Kalashnikov due to carelessness and later died from his injuries.
This comes as cases of people taking their own lives have reportedly increased significantly in various provinces of Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power.
Last week, two brothers who worked as goldsmiths were killed after armed robbers entered their shop in Andkhoy district of northern Faryab province. Another person was wounded in the attack, according to local sources.
The causes of most cases are said to be hopelessness about the future, domestic violence, and mental health issues.
The incident highlights growing concerns over mental health and social pressures in Afghanistan, where ongoing economic hardship, limited access to psychological support, and prolonged instability continue to affect vulnerable individuals across the country.
Afghanistan has seen a surge in violent crimes in recent years, including abductions, armed robberies, targeted killings, and mysterious deaths. The Taliban, who regained power in 2021 and claim to have restored nationwide security, face criticism from citizens, rights groups, and activists over civilian protection and transparency in crime investigations.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that weakened institutional oversight and restrictions on civil society have reduced avenues for mediation and protection in cases of domestic abuse. In rural and conflict-affected areas, disputes are often handled informally, sometimes escalating into violence.
In its annual 2025 report released this week, the UK-based rights group Rawadari documented 611 cases of targeted, suspicious, or extrajudicial incidents involving deaths or injuries. The victims included former government employees, individuals accused of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders, and community figures.
