A young man returning home from the market was shot dead inside his personal vehicle after de facto Taliban forces opened fire on a separate vehicle along a highway on the outskirts of Khost city.
According to witness statements obtained by Zawiya News, the incident occurred in the Shamal Pul area along the unpaved road leading toward Ghulam Khan Port. The victim, identified as Mahabat, was driving home when de facto security forces attempted to intercept a stolen vehicle by opening fire.
Eye-witnesses reported that Taliban personnel discharged their weapons at the fleeing suspect’s car, but stray rounds missed the target and struck Mahabat’s vehicle instead, killing him instantly at the wheel.
De facto security officials in Khost have not issued an official public statement regarding the shooting or addressed liability for the civilian casualty.
The incident highlights a persistent pattern of civilian fatalities caused by non-standardized force protocols and reckless firearms usage by de facto personnel in urban and transit sectors. Human rights organizations continue to emphasize that the lack of institutional accountability and standardized rules of engagement under de facto rule leaves ordinary citizens constantly exposed to deadly stray fire and uncompensated harm.