SECURITY — April 8, 2026
Young Athlete Killed by Gunmen in Baghlan's Pul-i-Khumri
A young athlete named Hamidullah was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Pul-i-Khumri, Baghlan province, on 15 Hamal, with two suspects fleeing and two detained but uncooperative. Local sources allege Taliban cooperation with some perpetrators amid rising mafia gang activity and resident fears.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
PUL-I-KHUMRI, Afghanistan — A young athlete named Hamidullah, who was also a former shopkeeper, was murdered by unknown gunmen in the second district of Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, on 15 Hamal.
Local sources said two perpetrators fled the scene and have not been arrested by Taliban fighters. Two other perpetrators were detained but have refused to confess or cooperate in apprehending their accomplices.
Sources claimed the Taliban are cooperating with some of the murder perpetrators, allowing them to roam freely.
They also reported widespread activity by mafia gangs in Pul-i-Khumri, which has led to an increase in thefts and assassinations. This has caused severe concern among residents.
The incident comes amid the Taliban's assertions of providing security nationwide since regaining control.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source with concrete details (name, location, date) but attribution entirely from unnamed 'local sources'; core event of the murder not corroborated by independent outlets.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Hasht-e Subh: "widespread mafia gangs" (loaded term implying organized criminal syndicates); "Taliban cooperate with some of the murder perpetrators" (accusatory claim presented as sourced fact); "caused severe concern" and contrasting Taliban's security claims (mild emotional framing and implicit criticism).
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
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Hasht-e Subh
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Security — Baghlan, Pul-i-Khumri, Taliban, Hamidullah, mafia gangs
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