Largest US military commander in Afghanistan survived Taliban attack

Written by Shaima Hafezi

General Scott Miller, the top US commander in Afghanistan, survived an attack on the governor’s residence in Kandahar province.

News agencies reported that while Abdel Razek, one of the most powerful security officials in Afghanistan, was killed when a bodyguard opened fire after a meeting at the headquarters of the provincial governor of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. The provincial governor was seriously injured in the attack.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had targeted both Miller and Abdul Razek, who were fighting against insurgents.

The attack is a major blow to the Afghan government ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Saturday, which the Taliban have vowed to disrupt.
Abdul Razek has been criticized by human rights groups but he is widely respected among US officials, who see him as one of the most effective leaders in Afghanistan and largely credited with keeping Kandahar province under control.

The Reuters news agency quoted an official as saying that one of the bodyguards of the governor of the province opened fire on Abdul Razek when he left the meeting with Miller and other officials; resulting in serious injuries to a number of senior officials including the governor of Kandahar.

“Regional officials, including the governor, police chief and other officials were accompanying foreign guests to the plane when the shooting took place,” said Syed Jean Khakrizwal, head of the provincial council.

Miller, who took command of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan last month, was not hurt but other Americans were wounded in the exchange of fire, NATO spokesman Colonel Knut Peters said.