A resident of Balkh Province says that his wife, along with their four children, disappeared after leaving their home in Mazar-e-Sharif city, and that no information about their whereabouts has been available so far.
Moloududdin, a resident of Balkh, said that his wife, Pakiza, 36, disappeared together with their four children: Maryam, 14; Modat, 12; Mahsa, 8; and Asra, 7.
He said that his wife had previously been taken to Kabul by her brother, Mustafa Safa, but after a complaint was filed and official follow-up was conducted, she was found again in Mazar-e-Sharif.
According to Moloududdin, his brother Mustafa, who lived with him in the same house, is also involved in the disappearance of his wife and children this time. However, no evidence or official statement has so far been released to substantiate this allegation.
Moloududdin has filed a complaint with the Taliban’s police command in Balkh Province, calling for an urgent investigation into the case and clarification of the fate of his wife and four children.
According to the complaint, Pakiza bint Abdulhadi, 36, left her sister’s house in Mazar-e-Sharif on 1 July 2026 at around 11:00 a.m., reportedly to buy shoes and clothing for her children, and disappeared afterward.
So far, Taliban officials have not commented on the case or on the outcome of any possible investigations.
Some defense lawyers and legal activists say that cases of domestic violence have increased since the Taliban returned to power. They say that violence within families is among the contributing factors behind rising rates of divorce, women leaving their homes, and suicide. However, no comprehensive official statistics have been released by relevant authorities to verify the extent of these changes.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
