On June 13, 2020, a series of attacks in Afghanistan left at least 17 people dead, with no claims of responsibility. In Khost, gunmen killed eight individuals, including parliamentary candidate Abdul Wali Ekhlas. In Logar, assailants stormed a house in Pul-e Alam, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her three daughters. In Badakhshan, a pro-government militia commander and three of his men were killed by gunmen. Additionally, in Takhar, a cleric was gunned down by assailants. These incidents followed a surge in violence in the country. Violence in the country had spiked at the time despite progress toward the launch of direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government over a permanent cease-fire and future power-sharing deal.