Leader of Afghan peace talks dies in attack on home

THE head of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who had been trying to negotiate a political end to the war, was killed yesterday, a senior police officer said.

He died in his home in Kabul’s heavily guarded diplomatic enclave, a week after a 20-hour siege at the edge of the area.

“Rabbani has been martyred,” said Mohammed Zahir of the Kabul Police. He had no further details.

A police source also said that Masoom Stanekzai, a senior adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, was badly injured.

Rabbani, who led a powerful mujahideen party during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, was chosen by Karzai to head the peace council last October.

His plan included offering amnesties and jobs to Taliban foot soldiers and asylum in third countries to leaders.

“This is a big blow to peace process and huge loss for Afghanistan,” said Sadiqa Balkhi, a member of peace council.

“Professor Rabbani was an influential and spiritual leader and was successful in luring Taliban fighters into peace process.”

Rabbani served as president in the 1990s when mujahideen factions waged war for control of the country after the Soviet withdrawal.

His killing comes a week after a 20-hour gun and grenade attack that on Kabul’s diplomatic enclave by insurgents, and three suicide bomb attacks on other parts of the city — together the longest-lasting and most wide-ranging assault on the city.

Last week’s siege was the third major attack on the Afghan capital since June.