Foreign soldiers kill Hesarak imam

JALALABAD (PAN): A prayer leader was killed by foreign troops during an overnight operation in the Hesarak district of eastern Nangarhar province, residents and officials said on Wednesday.

Identified as Qari Younus, the victim was taken away by the troops during the operation in the Garo area, the district development council chief, Dr. Naeem Walar, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

With tell-tale signs of torture on it, the body of Younus was found in the Laji Gad Kandaw area on Wednesday morning, he said.

Another resident, Dilawar Maroofkhel, said the foreign troops had killed the imam after capturing him. “I saw injuries on his body,” he said, suggesting the victim had been tortured.

District chief, Abdul Khaliq Maroof, said he came to know about the operation last night. He was told by the governor’s house not go out of the district centre during the offensive. He condemned the death of Qari Younus at the hands of foreign troops.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF said a combined Afghan and coalition force killed an insurgent during the operation in Hesarak after the security personnel were attacked.

The target was a Taliban-appointed operational chief for the district, the force said in a statement. He was responsible for the movement of foreign fighters and weapons used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, it said.

ma/mud