KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Nangarhar say that armed men on motorcycles have killed a tribal elder named “Allah Nazar” in the Sorkh Rod district.
According to the sources, the tribal elder was killed at around 1:00 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday, May 5) in the “Fathabad” area of Sorkh Rod district.
Sources say that Allah Nazar, 48, was a resident of Sorkh Rod district.
So far, the motive and perpetrators of the killing remain unknown, and local Taliban officials have not commented on the incident.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, similar incidents have significantly increased in various provinces of the country.
In most cases, the perpetrators of such killings are described as “unknown armed men,” and the Taliban rarely report identifying or prosecuting those responsible.
The case is the latest in a growing number of mysterious killings reported in different parts of Afghanistan in recent months. Over the past month, at least nine killings have been recorded across several provinces, including the killing of a mosque imam in eastern Nangarhar province, the murder of a driver in Kandahar, the discovery of a young man’s body in Ghazni province, the fatal shooting of a young man in northern Jowzjan, and the stabbing death of a private bank manager in Kabul.
The Taliban say they have restored security across Afghanistan since returning to power in 2021. However, residents, civil society activists, and rights groups continue to express concern over the authorities’ ability to protect civilians, investigate crimes transparently, and bring perpetrators to justice.
A report released in March 2026 by the UK-based human rights group Rawadari documented at least 611 cases of targeted, suspicious or extrajudicial killings and injuries across Afghanistan in 2025 — a rise of more than 40% from the previous year. The victims included former government employees, individuals accused of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders and other community figures.
The report also highlighted a sharp increase in arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. At least 2,559 people were unlawfully detained in 2025, more than double 2024’s figure of 885 and four times higher than 2023. Detainees included 138 former government employees, 77 civil society members and human rights defenders, including seven women, and 192 individuals accused of links to opposition groups.
This incident reflects the ongoing concerns about security and targeted killings in Afghanistan, where a lack of transparency and accountability has made it difficult to ensure justice and protection for local community figures.
