(Last Updated On: December 25, 2020)
US Special Representative for National Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has condemned the recent assassinations of public figures, and said such levels of violence “breed a climate of fear” and could drive more people away from their homeland.
Khalilzad’s statement came just hours after the latest in a string of targeted attacks, which claimed the life of Freshta Kohistani, a women’s rights activist, who was gunned down in Kapisa province on Thursday evening.
In a series of tweets overnight Friday, Khalilzad also reacted to the killing of Yousef Rasheed, the CEO for Afghanistan Free and Fair Election Foundation (FEFA).
(Last Updated On: December 25, 2020)
A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said Thursday night that the group had released 30 Afghan security force members in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province.
Ahmadi did not provide further details about the release of the hostages but in a video shared on social media it appeared the decision was based on an order by the group’s leaders.
An unidentified Taliban member, who filmed the short clip of the hostages, said: “These 30 people are national police, border and local police. Today, based on the Taliban leaders’ kindness order… they were released in Panjwai district and sent to their families.”
(Last Updated On: December 24, 2020)
Former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, said on Thursday he was concerned about the security situation in the country and called on President Ashraf Ghani to rethink his security policy.
He also warned that unless government starts paying attention to insecure parts of the country “they will take action”.
In a comment aimed at Ghani, Noor said: “Do not say that you don’t have patience, because it is difficult to see our people, in front of our eyes, being taken [out], innocent, and slaughtered.”
Speaking at a gathering in Balkh, Noor also indirectly criticized First Vice President Amrullah Saleh over his 6:30am security session and said that “oppressing poor people on the road is not the way to ensure security.”
(Last Updated On: December 23, 2020)
Afghan leaders including President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah along with the foreign community in Kabul have strongly condemned the assassination on Wednesday of Yousuf Rashid, head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA).
Photos and footage from the scene showed shattered glass and a blood splattered vehicle which was testimony to the barrage of bullets fired at the two men.
The Presidential Palace (ARG) stated in a series of tweets that Ghani has shared his condolences with the families and colleagues of the victims and that he condemned the attack.
(Last Updated On: December 23, 2020)
The latest assassination of a public figure, Yousuf Rashid, the CEO of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), has not only drawn widespread condemnation but also continues to increase the levels of concern among Kabul residents in particular.
Rashid was killed in a targeted attack early Wednesday morning. He was gunned down by unknown gunmen outside his house. His driver survived the attack but later died from his wounds in hospital.
A clear increase in targeted assassinations, either through the use of magnetic IEDs against vehicles or by shooting, has emerged over the past few months and public figures, including civil society members, media workers and government officials appear to be the targets.