PAKTIKA — A prominent tribal elder, identified as Haji Malik Mohammad Hassan, has been killed in Nematabad district of Paktika province, according to local reports.
The Taliban’s Paktika security command said the incident occurred in the village of Peghi in Nematabad. According to a statement cited by local media, the killing took place during a dispute over land, with the case reportedly already under review by a Taliban court.
Other reports have identified the deceased as Malik Mohammad Hassan Ghazizadeh, a former senator and influential elder from the Khogyani tribe. He was reportedly known in the area for his opposition to the Durand Line and had previously mobilized local residents in opposition to Pakistan.
Local residents reportedly told Zawia News that Ghazizadeh had once removed barbed wire from the area along the border. His family, meanwhile, said he had no personal enmity with anyone and described him as a respected and benevolent tribal elder.
The differing accounts surrounding the circumstances of his death have raised questions about the incident. While the Taliban authorities have described it as a land dispute, other reports have focused on Ghazizadeh’s political and tribal activities.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the killing and any arrests in connection with the incident remain unclear.