KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Three women were found dead in separate incidents in Kabul and Kandahar on Thursday, local sources reported, amid a recent rise in mysterious killings and violent crime across Afghanistan.
In Kabul, the bodies of two young women, aged around 19 to 35, were discovered by residents near Marshal Fahim Road in the city’s 17th district, according to sources who spoke with KabulNow. Details surrounding the circumstances of their deaths were not immediately available.
In Kandahar province, the body of another woman was found in the Nasaji area. Local sources said the remains showed clear signs of vehicle impact. Residents transported the body to a nearby hospital for examination and further investigation.
The killings come amid a noticeable increase in reported violent crimes and mysterious killings in different parts of the country. Over the past month, local media and residents reported several other fatal incidents, including the separate killings of two young men and a woman in Badakhshan and Jowzjan provinces, the murder of a woman in Helmand province, the killing of a mosque imam in Nangarhar, and the death of a driver in Kandahar.
A report published in March 2026 by the Afghan human rights organization Rawadari recorded at least 611 cases of targeted, suspicious or extrajudicial killings and injuries across Afghanistan in 2025. That figure represents a more than 40% rise compared with the previous year. The victims included former government employees, people suspected of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders, and other civilians.
The Taliban authorities claim to have restored stability and security nationwide since taking power in 2021. However, residents, civil society activists, and international human rights groups have raised persistent concerns about the authorities’ ability to protect ordinary civilians, conduct credible and transparent investigations, and ensure justice for victims of violence.
