New Delhi: The Taliban Friday asked its militants to refrain from shooting into the air after reports claimed that at least two people died and several others were injured during celebratory firing by the insurgent group in Kabul.
The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid took to Twitter to ask militants not to shoot unnecessarily, saying that these bullets are more likely to harm civilians.
A translation of Mujahid’s tweet reads: “Attention, Mujahideen in Kabul and across the country: Avoid shooting in the air and thank Allah instead. Weapons and ammunition are in your hands, no one has the right to waste them. Cold bullets are more likely to harm civilians; so don’t shoot unnecessarily.”
کابل ښار او ټول هیواد کې د مجاهدینو د پام وړ:
له هوایي ډزو څخه جدا ډډه وکړئ او پر ځای یې د الله تعالی شکر اداء کړئ.
ستاسي په لاس کې وسله او مرمۍ بیت المال دي، هیڅوک یې د ضائع کیدو حق نلري.
سړې مرمۍ عامو خلکو ته د زیان اړولولو قوي احتمال لري؛ نو بناء بې ځایه ډزې مه کوئ.
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) September 3, 2021
Kabul saw the Taliban firing into the air Friday night, reportedly to celebrate gains on the battlefield in Panjshir province. The Taliban claimed they had captured the center of Shutul district in Panjshir along with 11 outposts held by opposition forces.
However, the resistance forces have denied this claim. Panjshir is the last province of Afghanistan holding out against the Taliban.
Conflicting reports on casualties
Several photos and videos have since emerged on social media, showing people taking their wounded relatives to the hospital.
Emergency Hospital Midnight: People taking their loved ones wounded by the Taliban Air shootings to the hospital. #Kabul #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/lFv7vdqC4I
— Aśvaka – آسواکا News Agency (@AsvakaNews) September 4, 2021
Several, including children killed & injured in the #Taliban Aerial gunfire last night. pic.twitter.com/AkdtHEuFGV
— Aśvaka – آسواکا News Agency (@AsvakaNews) September 4, 2021
The #Taliban carried out cheerful shootings in most parts of Kabul last night, believing that they had taken control of #Panjshir province, while the Resistance Front denied the Taliban's claim, saying they had inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban. pic.twitter.com/GbheJ0pSNH
— Aśvaka – آسواکا News Agency (@AsvakaNews) September 3, 2021
TOLO News reported that as many as 17 bodies and 41 wounded people were transferred to the emergency hospital in Kabul.
Emergency Hospital in Kabul said 17 bodies and 41 wounded people were transferred to its facility with harm caused by last night’s citywide firing into the air.#TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/oWBKZhrAZW
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) September 4, 2021
However, in response, Emergency NGO’s Kabul hospital tweeted saying that since 9 pm Friday evening, Emergency NGO’s Kabul hospital admitted three patients, treated seven outpatients, and received two people dead on arrival.
Since 9pm on Friday evening, EMERGENCY NGO's Kabul hospital admitted 3 patients, treated 7 outpatients, and received 2 people dead on arrival.
— EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) September 4, 2021
TOLO News later tweeted to say that it “incorrectly said 17 were killed, 41 were wounded at facility”.
NOTE: TOLOnews first incorrectly said 17 were killed, 41 were wounded at facility.
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) September 4, 2021
The Washington Post quoted an official at the Emergency Hospital in Kabul as saying that two people were killed and 12 were wounded in the celebratory firing.
(The report has been updated to reflect the correct death toll. An earlier tweet by TOLONews said 17 people died.)
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