Islamabad: A former Afghan Taliban minister Mulla Abdul Raqeeb was shot dead in Peshawar, police said yesterday. Mulla Abdul Raqeeb, the former minister for refugees, was driving his motorcycle home after attending a seminar at Madrassa Maabul Ulomul Quran when armed assailants on a motorbike opened fire on him. Police said Raqeeb was shot on the Canal Road after he left the seminary in the limits of Tehkal Police Station and died on the spot. Sources said he was in favour of talks with the Afghan government. The killers escaped. Raqeeb was a scholar, politician, social worker and guardian of thousands of orphans. He was living in Peshawar where he was teaching at a seminary.
Two extremists killed in raids
Kabul: Two Taliban militants were killed and nine injured in operations conducted by Afghan forces and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the past 24 hours. The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan said operations were conducted in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kandahar, Zabul, Maidan, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces. Security forces also seized heavy and light weapons.
Roadside bombs kill 6 soldiers
Kabul: Six Afghan soldiers and three civilians were killed in two roadside bomb attacks in the eastern part of the country, local officials said yesterday. Afghan army spokesman Noman Atefi said a blast occurred in Alasay district of Kapisa Province as an army unit was returning from an operation. He said the explosion destroyed an army vehicle. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The other blast occurred in the Paktia Province.
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