Zainullah Stanikzai
Soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) shot dead three family members of a former Jihadi commander in southern Helmand province, officials said Saturday.
Mavlavi Mukhtar Ahmad Haqani director of Hajj and Auqaf department of the province told Pajhwok Afghan News the victims were family members of commander Abdul Ahad Khan famous as Baghran Rayes. The dead were included former commander's son, sister in law and his driver.
The three were killed in Balshing area while they were returning to Baghran from capital Kabul, he informed, a three months old baby survived the attack.
A grand gathering was held in the province to react for the merciless act, he added, great number of elders and religious scholars attended the gathering.
Attendants seriously condemned the attack.
Abdul Ahad Khan the former commander in Kabul confirmed the attack by foreign forces left three members of his family dead.
ISAF helicopter opened fire on his family members at eight pm, he added, his three-months old granddaughter had survived the attack.
"My son, Zia-ul-Haq was 35-years-old and had memorized holy Quran by heart." He added, they had no enmity with anyone. The former commander choose to live in Kabul as he is suspected by foreign forces for links with Taliban, he informed.
There are no immediate comments from local ISAF forces on the incident.