Almost a dozen religious scholars have been killed in attacks by unknown armed men in the eastern province of Nangarhar in the past two months, the provincial governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani said on Saturday.
Khogyani said that no one has been arrested in connection to the killings.
“Details of some cases have been shared by the National Directorate of Security with the other religious scholars in Nangarhar,” said Khogyani.
The deputy head of Nangarhar Provincial Council, Abdullah Shinwari, said that a number of foreign intelligence agencies are behind the target killings in the province.
“We held meetings with local officials on how to ensure the safety of the religious scholars,” Shinwari said.
Nangarhar residents, meanwhile, called on government to ensure the safety of imams.
“The attacks are threat against all religious scholars in Nangarhar,” said Hassan, a Nangarhar resident.
In a recent incident, Mullah Safiullah Hanafi, Imam of Qaletak mosque in Khiwa district of Nangarhar was killed in an attack by unknown armed men the district when he was leaving the mosque on June 12.
Hanafi’s relatives said Hanafi did not have enmity with anyone.