Taliban Shoots Dead 10-Year-Old Girl As Family Was Preparing To Flee To Canada

A 10-year-old girl was shot dead by Taliban men in Afghanistan as her family was preparing to flee to Canada. The family was driving through the Taliban checkpoint in Kandahar when the gunmen started firing at the vehicle she was traveling in.

The girl has been identified as Nazifa. Her father worked for the Canadian military in Afghanistan and had been approved for resettlement, reported Global News.

On Dec. 10, the family was returning after attending a wedding at about 11 p.m. when the incident happened. Though their car was cleared at the checkpoint, gunfire erupted immediately. The bullet struck Nazifa in her eye. Three others were injured after their vehicle rammed into a building.

According to Aman Lara, an organization that works for Afghans who meet Canada’s resettlement criteria confirmed that Nazifa's family was on the evacuation list.

"I can confirm this family did have the approval to come to Canada, and they didn’t make it out in time, and it’s a very poignant example of what can happen," Kynan Walper, an Aman Lara spokesperson was quoted by the news outlet, as saying.

"I am requesting the government of Canada to help us get out of this country, and get us out of this fear we are living in now," Bashir, the girl's father said, speaking through an interpreter. He asked to be identified only by his first name for safety reasons.

Bashir said he was a carpenter for the Canadian Forces from 2006 to 2011. Though the family had been approved to come to Canada, they couldn't leave due to the lack of evacuation efforts.

According to her father, Nazifa was a top student and was learning English to prepare for her new life in Canada.

Though it is unclear why the Taliban shot at the family's vehicle, Bashir believes they may have been targeted because he worked for the Canadian and U.S. forces. Bashir's brother-in-law Mohammad said the car driver thought he had been cleared to pass through the checkpoint, but when he did so, the Taliban started shooting.

Eleanor Taylor, a volunteer chief of staff at Aman Lara, told The Globe And Mail that the family of five – a mom, dad, and three children were in Kandahar to get their passports. They needed to apply for a Pakistani visa so they could try to escape the country overland.

Taylor said she saw a photo of Nazifa after the attack, and it was horrific. She added that Canada-bound Afghans have to put themselves at extreme risk to get their passports, and many have been arrested even at the passport office.