The images emerging from Herat are impossible to ignore: grieving families placing the bodies of their loved ones in front of the Department of Information and Culture, demanding justice. These were not casualties of some distant conflict they were young Afghan men, shot by Iranian border forces while attempting to cross the border. And yet, the tragedy does not end with their deaths. The Taliban government, sworn to protect its citizens, failed them at every step. Their bodies lay unattended for fifteen to twenty days, and families were left to bear the burden of grief publicly, protesting against the very authority that claims to govern and protect them.
These young Afghans were not trying to escape adventure they were fleeing the harsh realities of life under Taliban rule. Insecurity, lack of opportunities, and systematic violations of basic rights have driven countless Afghans to risk perilous border crossings in search of safety, dignity, and a chance at life. The Taliban’s mismanagement and disregard for citizen welfare have turned their own population into desperate migrants, vulnerable to threats both at home and abroad.
This incident is not just a matter of border control or migration it is a glaring example of Taliban negligence. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had a primary duty: to safeguard its people, to ensure that Afghan citizens, even those attempting dangerous border crossings, were protected or at least treated with humanity after their deaths. Instead, their response was reactive, slow, and insufficient. Sending a delegation to Iran, weeks after the killings, cannot erase the reality that these young men were abandoned while alive and neglected even in death.
Family members of the victims voiced the pain of systemic neglect. Ahmad Shah Abdali, a relative, remarked that all nine martyred individuals were from the same village, emphasizing that this was not a random tragedy but a failure of governance affecting a whole community. Mohammad Ismail Adil’s words were particularly damning: “They call themselves clerics and sheikhs and their country Islamic; yet they have treated our children and youth with extreme cruelty.” The Islamic Emirate’s inaction stands in sharp contrast to the religious and moral authority they claim. Protecting the lives of citizens should have been their foremost obligation.
This tragedy is part of a disturbing pattern. Just last year, Iranian border forces killed hundreds of Afghan migrants, and the Taliban’s response then was equally tepid. Repeated incidents like these expose a government more focused on appearances and proclamations than on actual governance and citizen protection. A government that cannot ensure security or uphold the rights of its own people is failing the most basic test of legitimacy.
The Taliban’s responsibility extends beyond issuing statements or sending delegations. They must act decisively: enforce measures to protect citizens, prevent unnecessary deaths, provide support to grieving families, and address the underlying reasons why Afghan youth are compelled to flee. Anything less is complicity in negligence—a betrayal of the very people they claim to serve.
Afghan families are no longer silent. By placing the bodies of their loved ones in public spaces, they have forced the Taliban to confront the consequences of their inaction. But words and promises are no longer enough. The blood of these young men is a stark reminder: governance without protection, without respect for rights, and without basic justice is cruelty and in this case, the Taliban are directly responsible.
