Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province, say they are deeply alarmed by nightly gunfire in the eastern parts of the city. They emphasize that most of these shootings occur in the Omar Farooq Township, Karte Ansari, and Karte Noor-e Khoda neighborhoods. Residents of these areas say that after hearing the gunfire, they have observed signs of killings and the burial of bodies, yet no one dares to search the area. Nevertheless, sources confirm that the Taliban execute individuals accused of theft, membership in opposition groups, or affiliation with ISIS, in accordance with their unwritten law.
Sources in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province, expressing concern over the nightly gunfire in the eastern neighborhoods of the city, say that the continuation of this situation has caused widespread anxiety among residents of the area. According to residents of eastern Mazar-i-Sharif, the intensity of the gunfire sometimes increases and sometimes decreases, but it continues on most nights.
Some residents of the Omar Farooq Township, located approximately 10 kilometers east of Mazar-i-Sharif, say they have heard gunshots on many nights and have later observed signs of killings.
One resident of the township, who wished to remain anonymous, says that in the early days of Taliban rule, he heard gunfire almost every night, though it has become less frequent in recent times. According to his account, the Taliban would bring individuals to this area at night and execute them.
This resident of the Omar Farooq area says that after hearing sustained gunfire, he would see Taliban vehicles moving from that area toward the city. He says there is a strong possibility that bodies have been buried at that location, but no one dares to search there. He emphasizes that he has repeatedly observed that after rainfall and water seeping into the ground, certain areas of the plain have shown signs of subsidence.
Meanwhile, a Taliban member, speaking about “armed thieves,” “kidnappers,” “ISIS members,” and “resistance front members,” says that such individuals do not need to be tried or imprisoned. This Taliban member reveals that an unwritten law exists within the group, under which individuals accused of or associated with these categories are deemed deserving of execution.
However, this Taliban member claims not to know who is carrying out shootings and killings in the eastern areas of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Separately, residents of other neighborhoods in Mazar-i-Sharif, including Karte Ansari and Karte Noor-e Khoda, also confirm that gunshots are heard in their areas at night.
One resident of Karte Ansari says that almost every night, or every other night, he hears several gunshots, and that this occurs repeatedly. According to him, while the purpose of the shootings remains unclear, it has filled the lives of residents with fear and anxiety.
This resident of Karte Ansari says, “Neither theft nor kidnapping has decreased nor kidnapping. Just like in the final days of the republic, people grow more fearful with each passing day, and the Taliban’s gunfire has also made life unbearable. People say that under the Taliban regime, their greatest fear is being accused of kidnapping, ISIS membership, or affiliation with the resistance front.”
Concerns over nightly gunfire in Mazar-i-Sharif are growing amid numerous reports that the Taliban have killed former military personnel, political opponents, and employees of the previous government on various charges.
This comes as the United Nations Assistance Mission’s quarterly report, published recently, had documented at least 14 cases of killings and 21 cases of arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and mistreatment of former members of Afghanistan’s security and defense forces.
Previously, “Rawadari” had announced in a report that in 2025, at least 66 people across 12 provinces of Afghanistan disappeared after being detained by the Taliban and unidentified armed individuals. According to the report, this figure represents an increase of approximately 29.4 percent compared to 2024, when 51 cases were recorded, and is more than double the figure from 2023, when 30 cases were documented. According to “Rawadari,” the victims were predominantly former government employees, individuals accused of cooperating with or belonging to groups opposed to the Taliban, and some tribal and religious elders.
The findings of this report indicate that in 2025, at least 2,559 people in Afghanistan were arbitrarily and unlawfully detained and imprisoned by the Taliban. According to “Rawadari,” this figure represents more than a twofold increase compared to 2024, when 885 cases were recorded, and is approximately four times higher than 2023, when 623 cases were documented.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
شلیکهای شبانه در مزارشریف؛ باشندهگان از ادامه قتلهای مرموز نگرانند
