AFGHANISTAN. Kabul: A famous comedian was shot dead in the Dand district of Kandahar by the Taliban on Friday, his family and security officials confirmed.
Taliban took Nazar Muhammad known as “Khasha Zwan” out of his home on Thursday night, and killed him on Friday, the family said.
Taliban has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Local officials in Kandahar said that unknown gun men took Khosha Jawan out of his home and shot him dead.
The attack comes as the Taliban captured all districts of Kandahar for the past weeks including the strategic district of Spin Boldak in Pakistan border crossing.
Nazar Muhammad was one of the well-known faces among security forces and gained massive popularity on social media for his jokes and comedic actions.
His dead body was found with his hands tied behind his back in the Dand district of Kandahar, according to security officials.
The Taliban group has said that this police member (Khasha Zwan) was killed in the 15th police headquarter of Kandahar on Friday.
Massive backlash from the citizens
The death of Khasha Zwan had a massive backlash on social media and among Kandahar citizens. Kandahar citizens say the death of Khosha Jawan is a continuation of targeted killings that began following the fall of districts to the Taliban. He had been working as a police in Sha Walikot district of Kandahar. His family said they have not yet received his dead body from the Taliban.
According to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, around 100 people who had previously worked with the government were taken by the Taliban out of their homes and were shot dead in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar.
Sha Wali from Spin Boldak told Afghan TOLO News, “Around 100 dead bodies are found and 300 more are missing. According to officials, 200 people who have been taken out from their homes are missing.
The Human Rights Watch said, “Taliban in Kandahar detained hundreds of residents whom they accuse of association with the government, reportedly killed some detainees, including relatives of provincial government officials and members of the police and army.”
A week ago, an Indian photojournalist for Reuters Danish Siddiqui was killed in Spin Boldak of Kandahar along with other Afghan forces.
Afghan officials in Kandahar accused the Taliban of the targeted and mysterious killings in Spin Boldak. But the Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected the claims and said some of the assassinations are personal related cases.
“The victims, mostly young, include athletes, civil activists, business persons, bloggers & persons suspected of sympathy with government of Afghanistan. Pakistan agencies since long see the town as fiercely anti Durand line sympathizing with Baluch & Achekzais next door. This is a revenge massacre,” Amrullah Saleh, first Afghan Vice of Afghanistan said in a Tweet.
The unstable situation in Afghanistan
The heavy clashes continue between Afghan forces and the Taliban in the outskirts of Kandahar for days. A spokesman for Pentagon said the US carried out airstrikes in support of Afghan National Defense Forces in some provinces, but did not provide more details.
The Taliban in a statement on Friday confirmed that the US airstrikes on Taliban in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, saying the civilians and Taliban fighters were killed in the airstrikes. The group called it a violation of the Doha agreement and said it will have “serious repercussions” for international troops.
According to Doha deal signed between the US and the Taliban, Taliban fighters should not advance in major cities.
