Kandahar: Killing of father, daughter being probed

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): A high level Ministry of Defense delegation is investigating the killing of a father and his daughter by Afghan security forces in Shah Walikot district of southern Kandahar province.

Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bismillah Waziri is part of the delegation which has arrived here for investigating the incident that  happened in Kandalan area a few days ago.

Local officials have been refusing to provide accurate information about the incident, but a source in the district administration, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the father and his daughter were killed by Afghan National Army (ANA) forces.

The source, who wished not to be named, said, “ANA forces opened fire and killed a 17 years old girl who was collecting animal feed in a field in Kandalan area of Shah Walikot district.”

When her father took her body to the ANA base in protest, the soldiers also opened fire at the man and killed him while an uncle of the girl was injured in the incident, he said. The source said the incident had sparked anger among local people.

Kandahar governor’s spokesman, Baheer Ahmadi, did not provide details about the incident but said the chief of army staff, Gen. Bismillah Waziri had reached the province for investigating the incident.

He said the delegation headed by Gen. Bismillah Waziri met with Kandahar governor, police chief, influential figures and relatives of the victims.

He said Waziri extended his condolence to the bereaved family and donated some cash to the family members. Waziri termed such incidents as intolerable, he said.

Kandahar governor Hayatullah Hayat said that security forces’ job was to protect people and incidents of that kind were not bearable to people and the government.

Kandahar police chief, Gen. Tadin Khan did not talk in detail about the incident but said he had talked with Waziri over investigation of the attack.

“Perpetrators of this incident would be definitely punished after investigation completes, I stand with my nation in this regard,” he said.

Shah Walikot is one of unstable districts of Kandahar and is located 40 kilometers away from the provincial capital.

Civilians have suffered huge casualties as a result of clashes between the warring parties but the killing of a girl and her was the first of its kind.

Mds/ma