Three Relatives Of Influential Afghan Politician Killed

August 20, 2012

by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

KHOST, Afghanistan – Officials said three Afghans from a politically connected family were killed on August 20 when their car struck a roadside bomb in the eastern Paktia Province.

Provincial police chief Zulmai Oryakhail said the dead included a brother of former governor and lawmaker Pacha Khan Zadran.

He said Zadran's nephew and uncle were also killed in the blast in the eastern Melan area of Gardez city.

Zadran said he believed the Taliban had been following his family members and targeted them specifically.

He said the Taliban has tried to kill him three times during the past two years in attacks by suicide bombers.

Zadran, a sometime-ally of President Hamid Karzai, is known for his opposition to Islamic extremism.

With reporting by AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-roadside-bomb-paktia-province/24682570.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.