Mayor, peace negotiator among 5 killed in blast

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): A district mayor and a local peace negotiator were among five people killed during a roadside bombing in northern Takhar province on Monday.

The blast occurred on the Ashkmash-Taloqan road at about 9am, when the officials’ vehicle the roadside bomb, the governor’s spokesman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi said the dead included Ashkmash Mayor Abdul Aziz, High Peace Council member Mohammad Hashim and three others. The victims were on their way to the provincial capital.

Resident Mohammad Ibrahim said he was working on his farm when the explosion happened. He claimed seeing five dead bodies and wrecked vehicle at the site.   

As usual, the Taliban asserted responsibility for the attack in the Aghar Qul area of the district. The mayor was killed along with several companions, rebel spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

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