Senior ANA officer killed in Badghis mortar attack

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A senior Afghan National Army (ANA) officer has been killed and four others have been wounded as a result of a mortar attack in western Badghis province.

A security official based in the province identified the slain officer as Lt. Col. Abdul Basir Nuristani, chief of staff to the 3^rd ANA brigade.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News Nuristani was killed in Bala Murghab district on Sunday evening when the mortar shell hit a military camp there.

Naeemuddin Burhani, the governor’s spokesman, confirmed the killing of Nuristan. Several security guards of the ANA official were injured, he said.

Elsewhere, one ANA soldier was killed and four others were wounded when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at a pick-up in the 12^th police district of Herat City, said police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizada.

Dr. Ibrahim Mohammadi, head of the Herat ambulance service, said the victims were evacuated to civil hospital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

sa/mud