KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in southern Kandahar say that the body of a young man named Wahidullah, who had disappeared two days earlier, has been found in the Ainu Mina area of the city.
According to the sources, the young man went missing on Friday from the Ainu Mina township, and his body was discovered yesterday (Monday, July 6) on 18th Street in the same area.
Sources say that the victim had gunshot wounds to the head, but the motive behind the killing and the identity of the perpetrators remain unknown.
The Taliban’s local authorities in Kandahar have not yet commented on the killing.
According to the sources, kidnappings and killings have increased in Kandahar in recent months, raising widespread concern among residents.
However, the Taliban’s Directorate of Intelligence and the Kandahar Police Command have instructed local journalists in the province not to report cases involving the abduction of individuals over the age of 10, stating that such incidents are considered a security matter.
A report released in March 2026 by Rawadari documented at least 611 cases of targeted, suspicious, or extrajudicial killings and injuries across Afghanistan in 2025, representing an increase of more than 40% compared with the previous year. According to the report, victims included former government employees, individuals accused of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders, and other community figures.
While the Taliban claim to have restored security across the country, residents, civil society activists and human rights groups continue to raise concerns over the authorities’ ability to protect civilians, conduct transparent investigations and bring perpetrators to justice.
These incidents continue to raise concerns about the deteriorating security situation and the lack of accountability, as local residents increasingly fear for their safety amid ongoing violence and uncertainty across different parts of the country.
