KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in northern Afghanistan’s Sar-e Pol province say an 11-year-old girl was killed in a knife attack at her home in Sozma Qala district.
According to the sources, the victim, identified as Roida, was found dead before noon on Sunday (July 12) in the Qazaq area of the district after being stabbed.
Sources told KabulNow that Roida’s mother had left the house, leaving the girl alone at the time of the attack. Her father is reportedly living in Iran.
The motive for the killing and the identity of the perpetrators remain unknown.
Sources added that Taliban authorities have detained several neighbors of the family in connection with the incident. However, local Taliban officials in Sar-e Pol have not yet issued any public statement about the case.
The killing is the second deadly incident reported in Afghanistan on Sunday. Reports of murders and the discovery of bodies continue to emerge from different provinces, with perpetrators in many cases remaining unidentified or being described as unknown armed individuals.
Similarly, another case involving the killing of a young girl was reported in eastern Afghanistan last month. An eight-year-old girl, identified as Saira, was found dead after disappearing from her uncle’s home in the Debrang area of Narang district, Kunar province, where she had been spending her school holidays. Her body was discovered by local residents several days after she went missing, while the circumstances of her death remained unclear.
The two cases underscore continuing concerns over the safety of children in Afghanistan and the lack of accountability in many violent crimes, where investigations often yield few public results and perpetrators remain unidentified.
Human rights observers have repeatedly called for transparent investigations and accountability to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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.
