Key Afghan political analyst killed in Kabul

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Leading Afghan political analyst with expertise on Taliban affairs, Waheed Mujda, was gunned down here by unknown attackers, an official confirmed.

Mujda had experience working under the Taliban regime at the foreign ministry, and was seen as a sympathetic, as well as an expert voice on the insurgents.

Nusrat Rahimi, interior ministry spokesman, told Anadolu Agency the shooting took place in the vicinity of the capital's Darul Aman neighborhood near the Russian Embassy by unknown assailants riding a motorcycle.

He was suspected by the NDS spy agency of having ties with Taliban insurgents in 2013.

Mujda also had affiliation with the Hezb-e-Islami party by the Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a veteran Jehadi figure. He had written a number of opinion articles and books on situation in Afghanistan.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting, weeks after two similar incidents left another political analyst, Hasan Haqyar injured and Nazar Mutmaen escaped unhurt.