A local commander affiliated with the National Islamic Movement Party of Afghanistan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in northern Afghanistan after being deported from Iran, the party’s spokesperson said.
Ehsan Niro told Afghanistan International that the Taliban were responsible for the killing of a commander known as Yousuf in Khwaja Du Koh district of Jowzjan province.
Niro said Yousuf was killed on Wednesday night, January 7, while returning home from a wedding ceremony.
Yousuf had served as a local commander in the former Afghan government’s public uprising forces and was a loyal supporter of Abdul Rashid Dostum, the leader of the National Islamic Movement Party of Afghanistan. He had taken part in numerous security operations before the Taliban returned to power, according to the spokesperson.
Niro said Yousuf fled to Iran after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 but was deported two months ago and returned to his home district. Upon his return, he was arrested and imprisoned by the Taliban, he said.
According to Niro, Yousuf was released from Taliban custody about two weeks ago after mediation by local elders and the payment of 800,000 afghanis as bail.
The killing follows a similar incident last year. On July 22, Ezzatullah, another commander affiliated with the National Islamic Movement Party, was shot dead by gunmen near his home in Sar-e Pol province, one day after being deported from Iran.
An investigative report by Afghanistan International has found that numerous former Afghan government military personnel have been killed after being deported from Iran. The report also documents cases in which former soldiers were subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in Taliban custody.
Taliban officials have not commented on the latest killing.
