Date: 01/12/1403

Taliban Commander Shoots Civilians During Football Match in Badakhshan
Local sources in Badakhshan Province reported that a Taliban commander shot and wounded six civilians during a football match in Shaki District on Wednesday, 21 February 2025. The incident occurred during a match between teams from the villages of Ghami and Obghan.
According to sources cited by Shafaqna Afghanistan, the shooting began after Musa Kaka, identified as a Taliban border commander, intervened in a verbal dispute between players. The situation escalated when a football struck one of the Taliban members in the face, triggering further confrontation. Sources stated that the incident intensified existing tensions between Taliban factions that had previously been in conflict over the division of a local gold mine. Following the shooting, Taliban fighters reportedly deployed in their strongholds in the area amid fears of further clashes.
Intelligence sources added that Musa Kaka is reportedly affiliated with Juma Fateh, a prominent Taliban commander in Darwaz, Badakhshan. No official Taliban statement regarding the incident was reported at the time.

The shooting of civilians by a Taliban commander during a public sporting event in Badakhshan Province illustrates the persistent use of armed force against civilians and the lack of restraint, accountability, and discipline within Taliban security structures. The escalation of a minor dispute into gunfire underscores the normalization of violence in civilian spaces and the fragility of public safety under Taliban control. The incident also reflects internal factional tensions within the Taliban, which further expose civilians to harm and insecurity. Such acts constitute arbitrary use of force, undermine personal security, and demonstrate the absence of effective mechanisms to protect civilians or hold perpetrators accountable.