Afghanistan: Three people are killed after attackers open fire on worshippers during the evening prayers of Ramadan

Kabul, Afghanistan: In the Farah region of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, worshippers were taking part in special Ramadan evening prayers (Taraweeh) when unidentified gunmen opened fire, resulting in at least three fatalities and other injuries.

Thursday night (April 4) in Tokali village of Pusht Koh district, Farah province, was the occurrence, according to a report published by Khaama Press on Friday that cited local sources.

According to the Khaama Press story, one of the people reportedly slain in the incident was Haji Akbar, a well-known local figure associated with the Afghan political organisation Hizb-e-Islami.

Abdul Zaher Khadem, the chief of Farah’s security, said that stern punishment will be meted out to those involved and that investigations are in progress to identify the attackers.

In the Taliban’s Afghanistan, targeted assassinations are not a novel occurrence, since Kandahar is often the target of assaults by the Islamic State (ISIS) and other terrorist organisations.

A suicide attack in Kandahar earlier this week claimed the lives of twelve people and wounded a number of others. ISIS claimed credit for the incident.

In many sensitive areas, like Farah and Kandahar, targeted killings have become the norm amid rising tensions; recent victims have often been local and government leaders.

According to Khaama Press, worries are raised about the Taliban security forces’ ability to maintain national stability in light of the recent uptick in violence on Afghan territory. The incidents in Farah and Kandahar highlight the growing security challenges Afghanistan has faced since the Taliban took control of the nation.

The majority of the combat also affects civilians, who endure direct assaults in addition to the broader consequences of heightened insecurity in their daily lives.