UPDATED WITH MORE CASUALTIES, REMARKS FROM PRESIDENT, CONDEMNATIONS, NEW HEADLINE
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – The Afghan president on Thursday confirmed the killings of provincial police and intelligence chiefs in a Taliban-claimed shootout in the southern Kandahar province.
Shortly after the grim details of the attack emerged, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani appeared on national Radio Television Afghanistan to reassure citizens, especially residents of the Kandahar province, about government measures to ensure security.
“For control of the situation, soon the National Directorate of Security chief, Mohammad Masoum Stanikzai, and other high-ranking Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry officials as well as brave commando forces, will reach Kandahar tonight,” he said.
“I assure all respected citizens, especially Kandahar residents, soon the situation will be normalized.”
Gen. Abdul Raziq, Kandahar’s police chief, was killed by gunfire allegedly shot by guards of the provincial governor, local Tolo News reported. There are unconfirmed reports that Zalmay Wesa, the governor, also succumbed to his wounds.
The shootout took place outside the governor’s office in Kandahar city moments after U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Gen. Austin Scott Miller left via helicopter after meeting with local security officials.
The provincial NDS chief, Abdulmomin Hassankhail, has also been confirmed dead.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, named Gens. Miller and Raziq as their main targets.
– Attack condemned
Col. Knut Peters, a NATO-led Resolute Support spokesman, told Anadolu Agency this was an Afghan-on-Afghan incident.
“Three Americans were wounded in the crossfire and they were medically evacuated. Gen. Miller is uninjured. We are being told the area is secure. Initial reports also say the attacker is dead. ”
Raziq had previously survived dozens of attempts on his life. He has been credited with bringing peace to the restive south of Afghanistan with his operations against the Taliban in nearly a decade in Kandahar.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the attack in the strongest terms, appealing to the government, political leaders, and Afghan people to remain calm, and stressed the priority of unity and national interest in the country.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also strongly condemned the incident, saying in a statement: “The people and security forces of Afghanistan have been paying a heavy price due to continued instability and threats from the enemies of peace. Pakistan stands by the government and people of Afghanistan in their quest for lasting peace and stability.”
*Aamir Latif contributed to this story from Karachi
