2 Killed in Kabul amid rising crime in city

KABUL (TOLO News): Two murders occurred in Kabul city over the last 24 hours, where suicide bombings have decreased in recent months but crime has risen. In broad daylight, a security force member and a civilian were killed in two separate incidents, according to relatives and eyewitnesses.

In the Khairkhana area of Kabul’s PD15, Abdul Qadir, a commander of the the Afghan Army’s special unit, was shot dead by unidentified armed men near a police checkpoint. In the second incident, unidentified armed men killed a civilian in the Dasht-e-Barchi area in the west of Kabul.

The family of the civilian said he was shot in his home:

“Someone called my son to the door, there was a ceremony for his late grandfather, but my son was killed at the door,” said the man’s father.

“I heard firing, I rushed and saw my son, and his blood,” said the mother of the civilian man.

“This is Ashraf Ghani’s government, if you (Ghani) cant handle it, then why don’t you step down?” asked one relative.

Qadir’s relatives, the officer killed at the checkpoint, said they want the perpetrators to be found and punished.

“He served in the government for eleven years, but he was killed brutally. We call on the government to find the perpetrators behind the murder,” said Abdul Wali, the brother of Abdul Qadir.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen who killed the army commander were riding a motorbike.

“There were two people on the motorcycle; they shot and fled the scene,” said Mansour, an eyewitness.

“I called 119, but the police came after one hour,” said Ahmad, an eyewitness.

Kabul residents said the police and other security institutions should pay attention to the safety of the residents.

The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior have not commented on the two incidents.