KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s police command in Paktika says that seven people, including five children, were killed and four other children injured in the explosion of an artillery shell in Barmal district of the province.
In a statement, the command said that the explosion occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday (June 8) in the “Dangar Legad” area of Barmal district.
The Taliban’s police command in Paktika added that the explosion happened when a scrap dealer attempted to dismantle the artillery shell and use its parts.
The command said that the scrap dealer and another adult were among those killed in the blast.
The Taliban’s police command in Paktika stated that the injured were transferred to a hospital, but did not provide details about their condition.
The incident highlights the continuing danger posed by unexploded ordnance across Afghanistan, particularly in rural areas where residents may unknowingly come into contact with explosive remnants of past conflicts. Children are among the most vulnerable victims, often suffering death or serious injury from devices left behind by decades of war.
United Nations statistics indicate that approximately 3.3 million Afghans live within one kilometre of areas contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants. The country remains among the worst affected globally for mine and ordnance-related casualties, with children disproportionately impacted as they often encounter the devices while playing outdoors or scavenging for scrap metal.
According to a recent Save the Children report, nearly one Afghan child is killed or injured by explosive ordnance every day on average. Between January 2025 and January 2026, the organization documented 338 children killed, injured, or permanently disabled by such devices, representing nearly 70% of all victims during that period.
Meanwhile, demining and risk-education efforts have slowed in recent years due to declining international funding, forcing some UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to scale back or close mine-action projects.
Aid groups and UN officials continue to call on donors to maintain and increase support for clearance operations and community-based awareness programs to prevent further civilian casualties.
Despite ongoing demining efforts, unexploded munitions remain a persistent threat to communities across the country, endangering lives and livelihoods long after active fighting has ended.
