Top Afghan Commander Assassinated Amid Election Violence

Following a security meeting, Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq was shot dead in a Taliban attack on October 18. Later, the Taliban released a statement saying that Raziq, "a brutal police chief," was the primary target. Abdul Mohmin, Kandahar Province's intelligence chief, was also killed in the same attack that wounded three NATO personnel. 

General Scott Miller, the head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, was present during the attack, drawing his sidearm but ultimately not firing. US forces later killed the attacker in a shootout.

General Raziq was leaving a meeting and heading toward a helicopter to take US members back to Kabul during the attack. Provincial officials such as the governor and the police chief accompanied the group when the gunshots suddenly rang out. At least two hand grenade explosions were also reported.

General Raziq was the provincial police commander of Kandahar, being one of the most powerful military and political figures in Afghanistan. He had been previously accused of human rights abuses such as torture and was a key opponent against the Taliban. He was considered by many to be a symbol of the anti-Taliban struggle, previously surviving nearly 20 murder attempts.

The attack represents a significant blow to Afghan and NATO counter-insurgency campaigns, in which nearly the entire leadership of Kandahar Province has been killed. Since Kandahar is considered one of the more stable provinces in the country, concerns have been raised over the region's future stability.

It is also particularly troubling as parliamentary elections are long overdue in the Kandahar region. Elections were previously scheduled for October 20, but they have been delayed again for an additional week after the recent attacks. The parliamentary elections have been delayed for over three years since the current assembly's term was supposed to end in 2015. Over the past few years, the government has reformed the government and election system with the help of the United States.

There is international concern that this attack could result in further delays or reduce voter turnout. Afghan officials previously warned that attacks ahead of the elections were likely. The Taliban has warned potential voters not to participate in the polls, claiming foreigners imposed it. At least ten candidates have been killed leading up to the elections, in addition to several attacks on voting centers.

The election is supposed to serve as an indicator of how Afghanistan can handle organizing free and fair elections ahead of the presidential election in 2019. It will also test the Afghan military and police in preventing Taliban attacks and securing voting areas. This is particularly important because this will be the first election since NATO's combat mission in Afghanistan ended in 2014, leaving election security mainly up to Afghans. NATO's Resolute Support Mission has offered to provide backup if requested. Shortly following the Kandahar attack, the Interior Ministry said forces are now on high alert and put measures needed to ensure the elections happen without further incident.

MOST RECENT ARTICLES