Concerns are growing among citizens about the increase in mysterious murders in the country. They say that most of these murders are carried out under the name of “unidentified armed individuals”. On the other hand, findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that in just one week, more than 12 people have mysteriously been murdered in five provinces of the country. Among the victims are women and children. Political experts, however, accuse the Taliban of being involved in these incidents. They say that whether willingly or unwillingly, the Taliban are seeking revenge and killing their opponents. According to them, the international community is “aware” of the mysterious killings in Afghanistan but does not “raise eyebrows”. They warn that if this trend continues, people will rise against the Taliban.
Nevertheless, some citizens of the country demand the cessation of mysterious killings and the identification and prosecution of perpetrators by international judicial and legal institutions.
Findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily show that only since Thursday, January 25, at least 12 cases of mysterious murders have occurred in the provinces of Takhar, Herat, Helmand, Badghis, and Balkh. These figures have been collected from the media and there are likely more cases than reported.
In the first incident, the body of a teacher, who had been missing for three days since Thursday, January 25, was found in the Bagh-e Dasht area of Herat city. The teacher, named Juma Gul, had disappeared after withdrawing his salary from the Kabul Bank branch in the Kabul Gate area of Herat city.
In the second incident, local sources in Takhar province say that the body of a three-year-old child, who was mysteriously murdered, was found on Saturday, January 27, near the village of “Pasha” in Ishkamish district of the province. According to sources, the child was beaten and suffocated to death. The child’s body was found after being missing for five days.
Meanwhile, individuals known as “kidnappers” in Herat, last Sunday, after failing to abduct a tribal elder, murdered him in the vicinity of the “Roznak” area in the Ghoryan district. The tribal elder, named “Arbab Abdul Salam,” was about 50 years old.
Additionally, local sources in Helmand province have reported that a 30-year-old man in the province was found hanged by unidentified individuals. Sources confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Wednesday, January 31, that this incident occurred in the center of Marjah district, Helmand province. Sources add that the man was hanging from the ceiling of a madrasa classroom. The motive and circumstances of the event remain unclear.
In the fifth incident, following an attack by “unidentified gunmen” on a house in Helmand province, a three-year-old girl was killed, and her father was wounded. This incident occurred on Wednesday night, January 31, in the “Hawz” area of Babaji district, Helmand province. Sources confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the girl’s name was Asma and she was shot in the head.
According to sources, the unidentified gunmen fled the scene after the attack. The reason for this attack remains unclear.
Meanwhile, local sources in Badghis province report that a tribal elder was killed by armed individuals on motorcycles in the Qadis district of the province.
The tribal elder, named Sharafuddin, was the head of the Development Council of the “Jahan Booya Dostha” village in the Qadis district. According to sources, Sharafuddin was targeted by gunmen on motorcycles around Thursday midnight, February 1. He was targeted by “unidentified armed individuals” as he was returning from an event.
In the latest case, four members of a family in Mazar-e Sharif City, the capital of Balkh province, were killed by unidentified individuals.
These individuals were killed on Thursday night, February 1, in their home in the Karte Khorasan area of the seventh district of Mazar-e Sharif City. According to sources, unidentified armed individuals entered the home of a man named Sayed Monawar Shah Haidari and killed him along with his wife, son, and young daughter with knife stabs. It is said that the daughter of Monawar Shah Haidari, Shakila Haidari, was a doctor. The motive behind the murder of members of this family remains unclear. Relatives of the family say they had no enmity with anyone.
Some political experts accuse the Taliban of being involved in such events. Ahmad Saeedi, a political affairs expert, says that the Taliban seek revenge and kill their opponents.
He adds, “Regardless of whether it’s ordered from the top or not, the Taliban take revenge and kill their opponents. Because every Taliban member and group considers themselves as the successor to Mullah Hibatullah, their supreme leader. Therefore, such murders are carried out by the Taliban, and the world has chosen silence.”
According to him, the international community is aware of the mysterious killings in Afghanistan but does not take action. This political affairs expert warns that if this trend continues, people will rise against the Taliban.
Another political expert, Wais Naseri, also identifies the Taliban and individuals affiliated with this group as the perpetrators of such events. According to him, all the mysterious killings in the past two years have been labeled by the “circle outside the Taliban” in the country.
He asserts, “The Taliban are involved in all the mysterious murders because they have not reacted to these murders so far. Currently, the primary responsibility for safeguarding people’s lives lies with the Taliban, but so far, this group has remained silent.”
However, some citizens of the country demand an end to mysterious killings.
Nadim Forotan, a resident of Balkh province, is concerned about the increase in mysterious killings. He says that most of these events are carried out by individuals affiliated with the Taliban.
This resident of Balkh adds, “Currently, except for Taliban members, no one else has weapons, and such killings are also carried out by this group. In Balkh province, people’s peace has completely disappeared, and we hear news of mysterious killings every day.”
Nisar Ahmad Habibi, a resident of Parwan province, says that human rights-defending countries should prosecute those responsible for such events.
He states, “Although it’s evident who are forces behind such events, countries, and organizations that consider themselves human rights advocates must respond to these events. The Taliban, who currently claim to hold power, should be held accountable as responsible authorities.”
Habibi adds, “Even the International Criminal Court should intervene in this matter and prosecute the perpetrators of these events. Or at least, if they cannot do anything about it, they should not support the Taliban.”
It is worth mentioning that in the past two years, multiple killings labeled “unidentified individuals” have been reported in Afghanistan under Taliban control.
In August this year, coinciding with the second anniversary of Taliban rule, the Hasht-e Subh Daily reported that during this period, at least 50 women have been killed in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Kapisa, Baghlan, Kunduz, Helmand, Faryab, and Bamyan provinces.
The victims include former military personnel, doctors, human rights activists, protesting women, students, and teachers.
