De facto security forces in Helmand province have drawn sharp criticism from local communities following a series of aggressive, nighttime shooting campaigns targeting stray animals across provincial urban centers. The security command in Greshk district officially confirmed that personnel executed 62 dogs in a single night using direct gunfire, framing the campaign as a public health measure.
Similar direct-fire culling operations have been routinely reported across the provincial capital of Lashkargah and surrounding rural districts. However, local residents describe the reliance on automatic firearms in residential streets as reckless and deeply distressing, noting that unexpected midnight bursts of heavy gunfire create intense anxiety among families already living under heightened security conditions.
Civilian observers and animal welfare advocates point out that using live ammunition in densely populated neighborhoods presents serious public safety risks and reflects a broader breakdown in municipal governance standards. Residents emphasizing public health needs have repeatedly urged local administrators to abandon indiscriminate shooting in favor of humane, structured stray management strategies, such as shelter programs or controlled veterinary intervention.
The recurring resort to open firearm bursts to address basic municipal issues highlights the de facto administration’s reliance on kinetic enforcement over professional public services, leaving provincial populations subject to continuous environmental stress and safety hazards.