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The director of Afghanistan’s media and data centre has been assassinated by Taliban militants within the capital, Kabul.
Native outlet Tolo information stories that Dawa Khan Menapal was killed by gunmen on Darul Aman Highway within the capital.
He often tweeted the Afghan authorities’s place and had greater than 142,000 followers on Twitter.
The killing comes days after the Taliban assaulted the defence minister’s house in Kabul.
After the assault on Wednesday – the primary main bombing by militants within the metropolis for almost a yr – the Taliban warned of additional assaults on authorities figures.
“Sadly, the savage terrorists have dedicated a cowardly act as soon as once more and martyred a patriotic Afghan,” inside ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai mentioned.
US Cost d’Affaires to Afghanistan Ross Wilson tweeted that he was “saddened and disgusted” by the killing, including: “These murders are an affront to Afghans’ human rights and freedom of speech.”
The UN Safety Council has known as an open assembly for Friday on the scenario in Afghanistan amid worsening violence.
Taliban militants have captured massive swathes of the countryside and at the moment are attacking key cities together with Kandahar within the south, economically essential Herat, and Lashkar Gar – capital of Helmand Province.
It comes after US and different worldwide forces introduced their withdrawal following 20 years of operations.
Diplomats mentioned Afghan authorities officers requested the assembly in view of the rising unrest. It’s set to begin at 10:00 native time (14:00 GMT) in New York, diplomats mentioned.
On Thursday evening US and Afghan forces launched air strikes on Taliban positions in Lashkar Gah.
Authorities troops have vowed to not lose the strategically important city, and combating there was fierce. Officers have urged civilians to evacuate, with 1000’s trapped or fleeing for his or her lives.
Neighbouring nations are additionally set to debate the scenario in Afghanistan on Friday.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have despatched diplomats to Turkmenistan’s city of Avaza on the Caspian Sea for annual talks.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov known as Afghanistan “the query that worries us all” on Wednesday throughout a state tv broadcast, AFP information company stories.
Russia in the meantime has held navy drills with Uzbek forces this week, amid rising considerations about safety within the area – together with the seize of key Afghan border crossings up to now month.
On Thursday the European Union known as for “an pressing, complete and everlasting ceasefire” in Afghanistan because the “mindless violence” escalates.
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