Former National Movement Commander Targeted in Armed Attack in Sheberghan

On the evening of Monday, October 19, unidentified armed men launched an attack on ‘Commander Shir,’ a former commander of the National Islamic Movement, in the heart of Sheberghan city. According to local sources, while Commander Shir was not injured in the attack, one of his brothers was killed.

A local resident told the media that Commander Shir was with his family at the time of the assault, which occurred in a densely populated area of the city. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, the commander’s history of military opposition to the Taliban has raised concerns.

Sources describe Commander Shir as a key military figure within the National Islamic Movement who played a prominent role under the command of Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum during the resistance against the Taliban. After the fall of the Afghan Republic, he fled to Iran, but in recent weeks returned to the country and resettled in his hometown of Sheberghan.

Amid growing attacks on resistance figures, Monday’s assault has heightened fears over personal safety and the overall security climate under the Taliban’s rule. The Taliban have not yet commented on the incident.