Security

Death toll in Badakhshan unrest rises to 15: Sources

Khash district, Badakhshan province. File photo.

The death toll from unrest caused by Taliban crackdown on protesters in the northeastern district of Khash in Badakhshan Province has risen to at least 15, including one woman, local sources said Tuesday.

The violence erupted during a public protest in Khash, where residents had gathered to oppose what they described as the Taliban’s heavy-handed presence and governance in the district. At least 20 others were wounded in the incident, which witnesses say was marked by the use of live ammunition against demonstrators.

Sources told Amu TV that while some of the protesters were from Khash, others had traveled from the provincial capital, Faizabad. “Most of the casualties are local residents of Khash, though some came from other areas,” one source said.

Initial reports had placed the death toll at four, but local officials now say that several of those who were critically injured have since succumbed to their wounds.

Residents warned that continued suppression could lead to retaliation. Some have threatened to torch Taliban administrative offices if the current situation persists.

In response, Taliban have reportedly deployed additional forces to Khash to reinforce control. Roads leading into the district have been sealed off, and sources describe a heightened military presence across the area.

Taliban have not issued a statement regarding the incident.

Badakhshan, a mountainous province, has seen periodic unrest since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. In previous incidents in the district of Jurm, residents clashed with Taliban counter-narcotics units over alleged selective enforcement during poppy eradication campaigns. Khash residents have said the Taliban are pursuing a “double-standard” policy in poppy eradication efforts.