Rahmatullah
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Uzbek
- District geolocation of incident
- Maymana: 35° 57′ 2″ N, 64° 46′ 48″ E
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Jun 22, 2026
Salim Omar
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Maydan Shahr: 34° 21′ 40″ N, 68° 50′ 25″ E
- Description of incident
While Salim was shopping in the market, a group of anti‑government protesters opened fire on a passing motorcade. He was struck by the bullets and died at the scene.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Jun 17, 2026
Muhammad Gul
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Tajik
- District geolocation of incident
- Kabul: 34° 31′ 1″ N, 69° 8′ 60″ E
- Date added
- Jun 17, 2026
Shah Khan
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Kabul: 34° 31′ 1″ N, 69° 8′ 60″ E
- Date added
- Jun 17, 2026
Mohammad Jan Haidari
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 13, 2026
Ali Akbar Mohammadi
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 13, 2026
Abdul Qadir Delawari
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 13, 2026
Sultan Ahmad Akbari
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 13, 2026
Reza Rasuli
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 12, 2026
Amir Ali Rasuli
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 12, 2026
Aqa Reza Akbari
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- District geolocation of incident
- Injil: 34° 37′ 55″ N, 62° 13′ 51″ E
- Date added
- Apr 12, 2026
Abdul Khaliq
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 5, 2025
Najiba
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 4, 2025
Malik
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 4, 2025
Gulsoma
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 4, 2025
Soraya
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 1, 2025
Aqila
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 1, 2025
Zeba
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 1, 2025
Sakina
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Dec 1, 2025
Lailoma
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2025
Merajuddin
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2025
Eynuddin
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2025
Razuddin
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2025
Mohammad Amin
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2025
Sahira
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2025
Rahmuddin
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Bala Buluk: 33° 7′ 27″ N, 62° 39′ 47″ E
- Description of incident
On May 4, 2009, a United States Air Force B-1 Bomber conducted an airstrike on Granai village in Bala Buluk district, Farah Province, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The incident, sometimes referred to as the Granai massacre, became one of the deadliest civilian casualty events involving international military forces in Afghanistan. The exact number of civilian deaths remains a matter of dispute among various investigative bodies. The Afghan government reported approximately 140 civilian fatalities, including 22 adult men and 93 children. Afghanistan's principal human rights organization concluded that 97 civilians were killed, with children comprising the majority of victims. Other estimates place the civilian death toll between 86 and 147 individuals. An initial investigation by the US military assessed that 20-30 civilians were killed alongside 60-65 insurgents. However, these figures were contested by Afghan authorities and international observers. A subsequent, partially released American inquiry acknowledged the limitations of the investigation, stating that a conclusive determination of the civilian casualty count would not be possible. The United States military accepted responsibility for the airstrike and admitted that significant errors occurred in its execution. Official statements acknowledged that the failure to identify the presence of civilians and to minimize collateral damage resulted in unintended civilian casualties.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2025
Amanullah Hasani
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Gizab: 33° 26′ 3″ N, 66° 12′ 53″ E
- Description of incident
On November 13, 2025, the body of Amanullah Hasani, a 65-year-old Hazara farmer, was discovered in the Dahan Yaghak area of Khalaj village in Gizab district, Uruzgan Province. According to local residents, Hasani had disappeared from his home approximately three days prior to the public report on November 14, 2025. Community members described the victim as a farmer who maintained no known conflicts or enmities with any individual or group. A village resident told Etilaatroz newspaper that armed Kochi individuals were responsible for the killing. The source further stated that several other village residents had been killed in similar circumstances in the past. According to the same source, local residents had filed multiple complaints with Taliban authorities regarding these incidents, but local officials allegedly did not respond to their grievances. The circumstances surrounding Hasani's death and the allegations regarding the perpetrators remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2025
Nowruz
- Photo of Victim

- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Day Mirdad: 34° 13′ 56″ N, 68° 17′ 28″ E
- Description of incident
On the morning of Friday, November 14, 2025, Nowruz, an approximately 30-year-old father of two children, was killed in an armed attack in Qoto Sofla village, DaY Mirdad district, Maidan Wardak Province. The victim was shot as he left his home. His brother, Rahmatullah, who had followed him outside, was also shot and critically injured with a head wound. Rahmatullah was transferred to Emergency Hospital in Kabul and placed in a coma under medical care. According to local residents who confirmed the incident, Nowruz was an original resident of Qoto village. He and his family had been displaced to Kabul and other villages in recent years and had only recently returned to their ancestral home. Local sources reported that the four attackers had concealed themselves the night before the assault in the neighboring village of Qoto Ulya, which is uninhabited. On the morning of the attack, they approached Qoto Sofla through a mountain route and opened fire on Nowruz as he exited his home. Taliban intelligence authorities arrested four Kochi (nomadic Pashtuns) men on suspicion of involvement in the attack. The motive for the assault remains unclear; however, local sources indicated that Kochies had conducted repeated attacks on Qoto village residents in the past, forcing them to flee. According to these sources, more than 200 families once lived in both Qoto villages, but the area became largely uninhabited over the past decade due to repeated attacks. Nowruz's family was reportedly the first to return to the village within the past two years, driven by economic difficulties in Kabul. Local residents stated that the killing appeared aimed at preventing villagers from returning to their homes.
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2025