KANDAHAR: The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assassination of President Hamid Karzai's younger brother on Tuesday, calling it "one of our biggest achievements" in nearly a decade of war.
Taliban spokesman Usuf Ahmadi told AFP by telephone that the group had recently assigned a gunman to kill Ahmed Wali Karzai, a hugely powerful and controversial figure in the Afghan south.
Ahmed Wali Karzai, the younger brother of the Afghan president and a hugely powerful if controversial figure in southern Afghanistan, was assassinated at home on Tuesday, officials said.
The killing of his chief local powerbroker will be a huge loss for President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar, the heartland of the Taliban insurgency as NATO troops rush to start withdrawing combat troops after a decade of war.
Initial details were sketchy, with a family friend telling AFP on condition of anonymity that he was killed by a bodyguard while entertaining guests at home and an Afghan intelligence official saying he was shot dead by a guest.
"We can confirm he has been martyred," Kandahar provincial government spokesman Zalmay Ayubi told AFP, providing no further details.
A health official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said Wali Karzai had been shot dead.
"He was shot dead at his house by one of the visiting guests not by a body guard, at around 11:30 am (0700 GMT)," said an official at Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security.
The official said the gunman had himself been killed by other bodyguards.
The family friend said a number of Wali Karzai's guests were also killed in the gunfire, but there was no immediate confirmation of who or how many.
The assassination came just before the Afghan leader received French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a surprise visit to Afghanistan where he announced that Paris would recall 1,000 soldiers by the end of next year.
Wali Karzai, head of Kandahar's provincial council, was for years a deeply controversial figure, dogged by allegations of unsavoury links to Afghanistan's lucrative opium trade and private security firms.
American documents leaked by Internet whistleblower WikiLeaks late last year painted him as a corrupt drugs baron, lifting the lid on Western thoughts long kept private on the president's younger half brother's tainted record.
Kandahar is a make-or-break battleground in the US-led fight to defeat the insurgency, where the United States has poured in thousands of extra troops to wrest the initiative from the Taliban and bolster the Afghan government.
Afghanistan is ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world, where official graft undermines public support for the Western-backed government and is believed to help fuel support for the Taliban insurgency.
A US cable in 2009 said a meeting with Wali Karzai captured one of the "major challenges in Afghanistan: how to fight corruption and connect the people to their government, when the key government officials are themselves corrupt."
Wali Karzai, who ran his own private militia in the province, is reported to have said the plethora of independent security firms run by different men in the region should be brought under the control of one man.
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@Imran: what a wonderful description you have provided of the saviours of Islam... "They don’t forget, They don’t forgive"....hmmm are you sure you have the right Islam in mind? because if i have my histroy books right, Holy Prophet (SAW) did a lot of forgiving.. and correct me if i am wrong...his actions and words are an integral part of the religion.
So, the Prophet of Islam (SAW) and the saviours of Islam cannot have opposing views or actions. take your pick but remember that on the day of Judgment each person will be raised with his leader...so choose whom you follow wisely for surely it could be one's salvation or otherwise.
the teachings of Islam have dengenrated so much over the last few decades that majority of the Muslims support anyone who cries Jihad.....there is more tolerance and forgiveness in Islam than warfare...let us all try to uphold the image of Islam as the name transliterate "to enter into peace (with Allah)" and peace with Allah does not translate into pillaging, rape and or murder of his subjects (Muslims, heathens or anyone else).
@Mirza: FYI: You have cited a wrong example! The United States is the biggest culprit behind the decade long Iran-Iraq war...
@Spud: If, what you just said, is assumed correct ... Then, Where would Afghanistan be so different from USA ... As all the things you mentioned are already happening in USA ... Women being raped, teens being pregnant, Adultery, Orgies ... so many things already happening.
Taliban are the savior of Islam. They don't forget, They don't forgive ... Expect them
I pray for the Afghan people if Taliban are ever allowed to return to govern Afghanistan. The women will be raped and murdered and will be condemned to live a wretched existence. Please people of Afghanistan I beseech you do not allow these murderers to rule you. They will leave your country as poor. Taliban says they are true followers of Islam and yet sell opium, show no mercy, and fight among themselves for power even though Islam is supposed to be religion of peace (read what they are doing in Pakistan, a Muslim nation). Wake up and destroy this cancer in your country.
Just shows, how fragile life is. Millions stashed away in Dubai Banks!!! Lesson for all politicians in Pakistan, as well, who are hoarding their ill-gotten wealth in off-shore accountss.
WOW, The Kingpin of Afghan Drug trade just shot dead, let me shed a few tears. Sorry can not got what he deserved.
In the 70's before the soviets went into Afghanistan there was a civil war going on. After the soviets left there was still civil war going on. When the Americans leave there would still be civil war in Afghanistan. Like Pakistan Afghanistan is very diverse and there is not much common among the different tribes and ethnicity. We can blame others but the fight would continue as both sides are of equal strength. Is is just like Iran and Iraq war, that continued for over a decade without any foreign army to blame for.
The beginning of the End for all the supporters of uncle SAMUEL...
This is a message ,that as for as foriegn forces are there in afghanistn,there will be no talks with NATO as already told by Taliban spokeman.
The coldblooded murder of Wali karzai indicates the zenith of precarious law and order situation in a war torn country like Afganistan, which is breathing at the european and American oxygen mask. Now the situation has further started deteriorating especially after the pull out annoncement of Nato forces in the near future. It is quite unfortunate that the same warlords would be left behind once again without any naitonal consensus or national representative body after the withdrawal of Nato forces. One wonders as to what all this bloodbath and holocaust was all about? The Nato might have dismantled the Taliban and Alqaida network and flushed out many key wanted figures; but, leaving Afghanistan in complete shambles and devastation is not what they were expected of. We, Pakistanies, are the direct stake holders of this quagmire created and we feel very much concerned and compassionate about this kind of paining scenario. There have been reports of clandestine talks of Nato with good Taliban with Pakistan being byepassed in the entire process which is again adding to our rusted mutual trust as allies against war on terrorism.
Is it the beginning of the end of the puppet Afghan regime..?
@TightDhoti: Give it a try ...
so sad, US can come back to Pak, still have a chance
@TightDhoti: Afghani Taliban are fighting for their own land. A W Karzai was an opportunist and bent as a four Rupee note. What has PTI got to do with this?
Oh America, what is happening? It's all going terribly wrong for you. But you can always rely on your old friend Pakistan...NOT!
So if ISAF leaves the Taliban will stop killing Afghan officials? Eh PTI?