On July 2, 2017, suspected Taliban militants conducted a mass shooting inside a mosque in Chimtal district, killing more than a dozen young people. Provincial police confirmed that 13 victims were killed, with seven belonging to the same family of Sakhi, while four other youth were captured alive. A provincial police spokesman stated the victims were not police officers, and lawmakers confirmed the victims had no association with police or uprising groups. Local residents, including Syed Alam from Balkh district, testified that the victims were civilians with no links to any party in the conflict, such as victim Wilayat Khan who left behind a small daughter and four sons.