KABUL – A former Afghan television presenter and two other civilians were killed in a bomb explosion here today, said police, in the latest violence to rock the city.
Yama Siawash died when a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near his residence in the Afghan capital, police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz told journalists.
Siawash, who recently joined Afghanistan’s central bank as an adviser, used to be a prominent political and current affairs presenter with Tolo News, the country’s biggest private TV channel.
No group claimed the attack, but many prominent figures, including journalists, clerics, politicians and rights activists, have been killed in targeted assaults here and in other cities amid growing violence.
Siawash’s death drew immediate condemnation from senior Afghan officials.
“Targeting journalists is targeting freedom of expression, and Siawash’s death is a big loss for our country,” said Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the nation’s overall peace and reconciliation process, in a statement.
“This is an unforgivable and unforgettable crime.”
Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, condemned the killing of “one of the most talented (TV) presenters” in Afghanistan.
Violence has surged across the country in recent months despite the Taliban and government engaging in peace talks to end Afghanistan’s long-running conflict.
On Monday, a deadly raid by militants on Kabul University left 22 people dead, many of them students.
The Islamic State has claimed the attack, which came just days after a suicide bombing near an education centre here killed 24 people.
That attack was also claimed by IS. – AFP, November 7, 2020
