Multiple people were reportedly killed and injured after Taliban personnel opened fire on protesters in Yeftal-e Payeen district of Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province, according to international media reports. The exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
According to reports, local residents gathered in Yeftal-e Payeen district on Saturday to protest against what they described as alleged abuses, arbitrary actions, and increased pressure by Taliban authorities in the area. The situation escalated when Taliban personnel allegedly opened fire on the demonstrators, resulting in multiple casualties.
Videos circulating on social media reportedly showed the sound of gunfire and injured individuals being evacuated from the scene. However, independent confirmation of the number of deaths and injuries remains unavailable.
Local residents stated that the protest was triggered after Taliban personnel allegedly subjected a woman to a physical search at Yeftal Bazaar, an incident that reportedly caused widespread anger and resentment among the local population.
Residents further alleged that over the past several weeks, Taliban authorities had increased their presence in the district, deploying a large number of personnel, carrying out arbitrary arrests, conducting house-to-house searches, and subjecting local communities to intimidation and harassment.
Tensions in the district had reportedly intensified following the emergence of a newly formed anti-Taliban group, the “Sepah-e Mihan Front”, which briefly seized control of Yeftal-e Payeen last month. The group reportedly disarmed Taliban personnel and raised its flag over government buildings before withdrawing from the district.
Following that incident, Taliban authorities reportedly reinforced their presence in the area and launched a broader security crackdown, including mass arrests and extensive house searches. Local residents have accused Taliban personnel of mistreating civilians, subjecting them to physical abuse, humiliation, and harassment during these operations.
During Saturday’s protest, demonstrators reportedly demanded the withdrawal of non-local Taliban personnel from Badakhshan, expressing opposition to their continued deployment and alleged actions against local residents.
The security situation in Badakhshan has remained tense in recent weeks, with continued clashes reported between Taliban forces and anti-Taliban resistance groups. The province has also witnessed attacks claimed by Daesh Khorasan (ISIS-K).
Recently, Daesh Khorasan claimed responsibility for the killing of Zabihullah Amiri, the Taliban-appointed head of the Information and Culture Department in Badakhshan, further highlighting the complex and volatile security environment in the province.
The latest incident underscores the growing tensions between local communities and Taliban authorities in parts of Afghanistan, amid ongoing security challenges, armed opposition movements, and concerns over governance and human rights conditions.
