Woman Killed by Unidentified Gunmen in Badakhshan’s Ishkashim District
Lailma, the wife of local singer Salam Maftoon, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen on Thursday morning in the Ishkashim district of Badakhshan province. The attack occurred between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. as she was traveling to her workplace. She was transported to a local medical facility, where she later died from her injuries. No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting, and the motive remains unclear.
According to local sources and witnesses, the incident took place as Lailma was commuting to her business. Reports regarding the nature of her enterprise differ: Afghanistan International and Hasht-e Subh state she operated a tailoring workshop in the district market, while Amu TV reports she managed a women-only restaurant. The exact location of the shooting was also described differently, with some accounts placing it in the market area and others specifying Sayyad village.
The killing coincides with a broader pattern of targeted violence and rising insecurity reported across several Afghan provinces. Afghanistan International and Hasht-e Subh note that Lailma was a follower of the Ismaili faith and contextualize the attack within ongoing reports of pressure and forced conversion attempts targeting the community in the region, while Amu TV omitted this detail.
Taliban police spokesperson Ehsanullah Kamgar confirmed the killing to reporters, though he did not provide further details regarding the investigation. Other local reports indicated that the de facto authorities had not yet issued a public statement on the matter. Local officials have not released information on any arrests or ongoing inquiries related to the case.
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Where reports agree
- Lailma, wife of local singer Salam Maftoon, was killed in Ishkashim district, Badakhshan.
- The incident occurred on Thursday morning (17 Thor/Thawr) around 8:00-8:30 AM.
- She was shot by unidentified armed individuals while on her way to work.
- She died at a local hospital/clinic after the attack.
- No group has claimed responsibility and the motive remains unclear.
- The killing coincides with a reported surge in targeted assassinations and insecurity across multiple Afghan provinces.
Where reports differ
- Nature of her business: Sources 1 and 3 state she ran a tailoring workshop, while Source 2 claims she owned a women-only restaurant.
- Taliban response: Source 1 states Taliban police spokesperson Ehsanullah Kamgar confirmed the killing, whereas Source 2 reports the Taliban have not commented.
- Exact location: Source 1 places the attack in the district market, while Source 3 specifies Sayyad village.
- Religious context: Sources 1 and 3 identify her as Ismaili and contextualize the killing within broader persecution of the community; Source 2 omits this detail entirely.
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