KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Kunar say that “unknown individuals” have beheaded a child in Asadabad city, the capital of the province.
According to the sources, the child was kidnapped yesterday, and his “beheaded body” was found today (Sunday, May 10) in the “Nawabad” area of Asadabad city.
The sources say the child’s name was “Usman,” and the motive for his abduction and killing has not yet been determined.
According to reports from the sources, the child’s family had no enmity with any person or group.
Local Taliban officials in Kunar have not yet commented on the incident.
This comes amid a broader pattern of reported insecurity and unresolved violent incidents across Afghanistan, raising continued questions about public safety despite Taliban claims of nationwide security.
Four months ago, local sources in Afghanistan reported two separate security incidents in Helmand and Balkh provinces that added to these concerns.
In Helmand province, the body of a young man was found in Musa Qala district, showing signs of physical abuse. The victim’s identity remains unknown, and Taliban officials did not comment on the case.
In a separate incident in Balkh province, a two-and-a-half-year-old child named Arshida was abducted in Mazar-e-Sharif by an unidentified woman wearing a burqa, with no information yet about her whereabouts.
These cases reflect ongoing reports of violence and abductions in different parts of the country, contributing to persistent concerns about the effectiveness of security and protection for civilians.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, local media and residents have reported an increase in so-called “mysterious killings” as well as multiple cases of child abductions across different provinces. While the Taliban have, in some instances, confirmed abductions and claimed their forces successfully recovered abducted children, many cases remain unresolved.
These incidents come despite repeated assertions by the Taliban that security has significantly improved across Afghanistan following their takeover.
The killing of civilians, especially children, has raised growing concern among local communities, highlighting the continuing insecurity and lack of effective protection mechanisms despite official claims of stability.
