Two women have been killed and another woman wounded after Taliban forces opened fire on people disagreeing with a Taliban leader’s request for ushr, or taxes, in Kunar province.
The shooting happened on Saturday in the Narj district’s Songli area when local Taliban commander, Salahuddin, went to collect the money, according to Narj district resident Faraidun Sapai.
Sapai says that after the payment of ushr was rejected by local residents, a verbal disagreement broke out and escalated to the point that Salahuddin’s men shot at those present. Two women were killed and another woman was wounded by the gunfire.
One of the Taliban forces in Kunar, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Rukhshana Media that there was a shooting in Narj district between the Gujar tribes which resulted in casualties. According to the source, a party to the conflict were the Taliban forces, and the conflict may have been a personal matter.
Local Taliban officials in Kunar province have also confirmed the shooting occured.
It is common for Taliban forces to collect money from the local people in most provinces of Afghanistan, including Ghazni and Daikundi, as a form of ushr or taxes.
