KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in western Afghanistan’s Farah province say armed thieves raided a shop in Bakwa district, killing a young man and stealing around 500,000 Afghanis ($7,000) in cash.
The sources said the victim, identified as Irfan, was stabbed to death inside a shop in the Wadud Bazaar of Bakwa district on Tuesday night, September 8.
According to the sources, Irfan was originally from neighboring Helmand province and worked as a shop clerk. He reportedly also slept at the shop where he worked.
The motive for the attack was apparently robbery, with the assailants reportedly taking approximately 500,000 Afghanis after killing him.
Taliban officials in Farah have not yet publicly commented on the incident or announced any arrests in connection with the killing.
These latest killings underscore the persistent security challenges facing ordinary Afghans, as incidents of armed robbery and deadly violence continue to be reported despite official assurances of improved public safety.
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.
United Nations data has also documented robbery incidents in Afghanistan. In a report covering February through April 2025, the UN recorded 175 robbery incidents, a 7 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. In an earlier reporting period, from November 2024 to January 2025, the UN recorded 108 robbery incidents, representing a 129 percent increase compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over public security and law enforcement in Afghanistan. While the Taliban frequently cite improvements in nationwide security since returning to power in 2021, reports of armed robberies, targeted killings, and other criminal incidents continue to emerge from several provinces.
