Taliban official Zabihullah Amiri shot dead in Badakhshan targeted attack
Synopsis
A Taliban information official was assassinated in Badakhshan just one day after the group launched a media initiative insisting the province's security situation was exaggerated. The timing exposes a sharp contradiction between the Taliban's public messaging and the ground reality in one of Afghanistan's most restive provinces.
Key Takeaways
Zabihullah Amiri , the Taliban's Director of Information and Culture in Badakhshan , was shot dead on 28 July on the Baharak-Faizabad highway .
One attacker was killed by Amiri's security escort; a second suspect remained at large as of Tuesday.
Amiri's driver was reportedly injured and taken to hospital.
No group has claimed responsibility; the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) has carried out prior attacks in the province but is not confirmed to be behind this killing.
The attack occurred a day after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid publicly dismissed reports of insecurity in Badakhshan as 'exaggerated'.
Taliban Minister Sher Ahmad Haqqani called circulating reports of clashes 'rumour-based'.
The Taliban's Director of Information and Culture for Badakhshan province, Zabihullah Amiri, was shot dead in a targeted attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 28 July, according to local media citing provincial officials. The killing marks the latest in a series of attacks against Taliban functionaries in the restive northeastern province.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Hesanullah Kamgar, the Taliban's police commander in Badakhshan, Amiri was ambushed while travelling to his office along the Baharak-Faizabad highway. Security personnel accompanying him shot and killed one of the attackers at the scene. A second suspect remained at large as of Tuesday, with operations launched to apprehend them. Amiri's driver was reportedly injured in the assault and subsequently hospitalised.
No Claim of Responsibility Yet
No armed group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing. The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), an anti-Taliban armed organisation, has previously claimed attacks on Taliban forces in Badakhshan — but there is no confirmed evidence linking it to Amiri's assassination, according to reports. The incident adds to a pattern of targeted violence against Taliban administrative and security officials in the province.
Taliban Pushes Back on Security Narrative
The attack comes a day after the Taliban launched a media engagement initiative titled 'Government in the Mirror of the Press' on Monday, 27 July, aimed at improving coordination between government institutions and journalists. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid used the platform to assert that reports of clashes between security forces and armed opposition groups in Badakhshan had been 'exaggerated', maintaining that the situation in the province remained under control.
Mujahid further argued that security incidents occur in many countries and should not be treated as exceptional, adding that Afghan security forces were prepared to respond to any armed activity. He claimed that the Afghan people broadly support the current administration.
Minister Calls Reports 'Rumour-Based'
Afghanistan's Minister of Information and Culture, Sher Ahmad Haqqani, echoed this line, stating that circulating reports about clashes were based on rumours and did not reflect ground realities. He called for closer cooperation between the government and the media to ensure the public receives accurate information — a statement that critics may read as pressure on press freedom rather than an endorsement of it.
A Province Under Pressure
Badakhshan has increasingly emerged as a flashpoint for anti-Taliban resistance. The province's geographic remoteness and rugged terrain have historically made it difficult to police, and armed groups have exploited this to mount recurring attacks. Tuesday's killing of a senior information official — the very ministry responsible for managing the Taliban's public image — carries particular symbolic weight and directly contradicts the administration's claim that the security situation is overstated.
Point of View
But the absence of a claim is itself notable: it may indicate a newer, less visible actor, or an internal dispute. Either way, Badakhshan is becoming a test case for whether the Taliban can hold territory it controls administratively, not just militarily.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Zabihullah Amiri and why was he killed?
Zabihullah Amiri was the Taliban's Director of Information and Culture for Badakhshan province in Afghanistan. He was shot dead in a targeted attack on 28 July while travelling to his office along the Baharak-Faizabad highway; no group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing.
Who is suspected of carrying out the attack in Badakhshan?
No armed group has claimed responsibility for Amiri's killing as of Tuesday. The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), which has previously claimed attacks on Taliban forces in Badakhshan, has not been confirmed as responsible for this specific incident.
What is the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF)?
The Afghanistan Freedom Front is an armed group opposed to Taliban rule that has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Taliban forces in Badakhshan province. Its involvement in the killing of Amiri has not been confirmed.
What did the Taliban say about security in Badakhshan before the attack?
On Monday, 27 July, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated at the launch of the 'Government in the Mirror of the Press' initiative that reports of clashes in Badakhshan had been exaggerated and that the situation was under control. The assassination of Amiri the following day directly contradicts that assessment.
Is Badakhshan a recurring flashpoint for anti-Taliban violence?
Yes. Badakhshan has seen a series of targeted attacks on Taliban officials and security personnel. The province's remote terrain has made it difficult to secure, and armed groups have repeatedly exploited this vulnerability to carry out strikes against the administration.
