PESHAWAR: Ten people including a key pro-government tribal elder and former jihadi commander from Dir Lower were killed and seven others wounded in a suicide attack in Asmar district of eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, police said on Wednesday.
The suicide bomber blew himself up in a jirga convened to resolve a dispute in Shagai area of Asmar district, Khalilullah Ziayee, police chief of Kunar province, confirmed to Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), adding that 10 people, including Malik Muhammad Zareen were killed. He said that a son of Malik Zareen identified as Zahir and his two children and some other tribal elders were also among the dead.
The triple nationality holder of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States, Malik Zareen was one of the close supporters of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and served as jihadi commander in Prof Sibghatullah Mujaddidi’s party during the jihad against former USSR in 1980s. He was considered to be the most influential Malik not only in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan. A resident of Maskani village in Dir Lower district, he also remained governor of the Kunar province during 2004 and 2007. One of his sons named Malik Ayub also remained the Samarbagh Union Council nazim in Dir Lower.
Meanwhile, the Taliban disassociated themselves from the suicide attack. Taliban spokes-man Zabihullah Mujahid told AIP that Taliban had not been involved in the killing of Malik Zareen.
Our correspondent adds from Dir: Police sources confirmed that the bodies of the slain Malik and his son have been brought to Maskani village. They would be laid to rest in the Maskani village at 10 a.m.
Currently, he was actively supporting the government in maintaining peace tribal region.
Meanwhile, the police arrested four militants including a militant commander from the Maskani village on Wednesday during a raid. They included Niamatullah, Umar Bacha, Saifur Rahman and Abdul Akbar.
