Local sources in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province say a female doctor, Gulalai, was killed at her home in Surkh-Rod district late on Sunday night (21 June) in an attack by unidentified armed men. They allege she was assaulted, tortured, and killed.
Taliban authorities in Nangarhar, however, have presented a different account, releasing a video in which family members describe her death as a suicide.
Gulalai worked at a health centre in Pacheeragam district and lived with her family in Sheikh Misri village, Surkh-Rod district. Local sources say she specialised in maternal and child healthcare and was the main income provider for her family.
A neighbour, speaking anonymously, told R.M. Media that armed men entered the house during the night.
“Close to midnight, we heard the father shouting that my daughter is dead. When I arrived, I saw that the father and brother had their hands tied, and Gulalai was found strangled inside the room. The armed men had already fled,” the source said.
The same source said her father was beaten and suffered a broken arm, adding that the family had no known personal disputes.
A separate source close to the family said Gulalai had previously reported pressure and threats allegedly linked to a Taliban-affiliated official, including what she described as inappropriate demands. According to the source, she had filed a complaint with the Nangarhar Public Health Directorate about four months earlier, but no action was taken. She also sent an audio message to media outlets describing the alleged threats.
R.M. Media says it has obtained the recording, in which Gulalai refers to the district health official in Pacheeragam, Rafiullah Mansoor, and mentions other individuals.
The source added she was a widow and had been threatened with job transfer if she did not comply with the demands.
Taliban authorities have not issued a detailed written report and have only referred to the family video statement.
In the video, Gulalai’s father says she died by suicide and had previously experienced mental health issues and attempted suicide several times. The video appears partially edited, prompting reactions on social media, although these claims remain unverified.
The incident has drawn attention in Nangarhar, with some linking it to broader concerns over pressure on female healthcare workers in Afghanistan.
No independent forensic report or investigation findings have been made public so far.
