An attack on civilians in Ghor province in central Afghanistan, which left 14 dead and four injured, has sparked widespread condemnation from Afghan citizens and political figures.
According to local sources, the victims were residents of Daikundi, traveling along the route between Daikundi and Ghor, when they were brutally gunned down by armed assailants.
Abdullah Abdullah, the former head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, denounced the attack in a post on X.
“With deep sorrow, we learned that 14 innocent residents of Daikundi were ruthlessly shot by unknown gunmen along the Daikundi-Ghor route,” he wrote.
Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of the National Directorate of Security, also condemned the violence, calling it “the most heartbreaking form of violence.”
In a post on X, Nabil wrote, “This is the most distressing type of brutality, where innocent lives are taken solely for their effort to live peacefully and civilly.”
The Freedom Front of Afghanistan, in a statement, described the attack as “a crime against humanity.” The group claimed, “This massacre took place while the local population has been disarmed. The only armed actors in Ghor, Daikundi, and surrounding areas are the Taliban militias.”
The National Movement for Peace and Justice similarly condemned the attack, calling it a continuation of “crimes against humanity.”
Across social media, citizens expressed outrage, criticizing the lack of accountability for such incidents. Some labeled the attack as part of a larger “genocide against the Hazara community.”
Daesh, or ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Despite repeated claims by the Taliban that ISIS has been suppressed in Afghanistan, attacks attributed to the group continue to result in civilian casualties.