Kokcha News Agency: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed that the Taliban opened fire on protesters in Badakhshan, killing 10 people and injuring 40 others. The incident occurred in May of this year during protests against the Taliban’s poppy eradication campaign in the districts of Argo, Jerm, and Khash.
According to the UNAMA report released on Sunday, August 19, the Taliban also fired on mourners during the funeral processions of the victims. The Taliban-appointed governor of Badakhshan confirmed the shootings, telling the BBC that they had no other means of controlling the protests and resorted to using firearms.
This is not the first time the Taliban has used lethal force against protesters in Badakhshan. Last year, the group similarly opened fire on demonstrators, killing several civilians.
The incident highlights the Taliban’s increasingly violent response to dissent and their efforts to enforce their policies, including the eradication of poppy cultivation, which has been a significant source of income for many rural communities in Afghanistan.
The UNAMA report underscores the ongoing human rights violations under Taliban rule, as the group continues to suppress opposition through violent means. The international community has been urged to hold the Taliban accountable for these actions and to pressure the group to respect the rights of Afghan citizens.
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