18 October 2018
Kandahar-- TV journalist Mohammad Salim Angaar from state TV Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) is among at least 4 victims of shootings in Kandahar city on Thursday.
Inside the provincial governor’s compound in Kandahar City, the attacker fatally shot the region’s powerful police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, the provincial spy agency chief Abdulmomin Hassankhil and a senior Afghan National Army and RTA cameraman Mohammad Salim Angaar who covering the meeting.The gunfire wounded Kandahar’s governor Zalmai Wisa, another police commander and three Americans, Afghan officials said.
The shooter, who was of the provincial governor's elite guards, was killed by security forces. The attack happened after high-ranking officials, including Resolute Support /NATO commander Gen. Austin Scott Miller, had wrapped up a meeting inside the provincial governor's residence and were making their way to a helipad in the governor’s compound.
Resolute Support issued a statement however on Thursday night to say the Miller had escaped unharmed but that two Americans and a coalition force member were wounded.
In a statement, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had specifically been aimed at General Raziq and General Miller.
President Ashraf Ghani reportedly sent a high-ranking delegation to Kandahar, along with special forces, to investigate the incident. ToloNews TV reported.
Ahmad Quraishi, executive director of Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) condemned the attack, saying “Deeply saddened by the demise of a great journalist who worked for years in one of the most dangerous areas and risked death for doing his job.”
"This is a devastating loss and I send my sincere condolences to Salim’s family and friends and the RTA Kandahar team.” Mr. Quraishi said.
At this point this year, Afghanistan is the deadliest country globally. 15 journalists and media workers have been killed in ISIS and Taliban attacks in Afghanistan in 2018.