Gunmen Kill Former Afghan Taliban Minister In Pakistan

Islamabad, Feb 18, IRNA - Unidentified gunmen shot dead a former Afghan Taliban minister, Abdul Raqeeb in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Police in Peshawar confirmed the killing of an Afghan national, however sources close to Afghan Taliban confirmed Abdul Raqeebˈs assassination. Abdul Raqeebˈs killing could be the result of his association with Agha Jan Mutasim, a former Taliban minister, who recently launched his own peace initiative and announced to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai and Afghan groups. Slain Abdul Raqeeb visited Dubai several times and had attended meetings of the breakaway faction of Agha Jan Mutasim, Afghan sources said. No group claimed responsibility for the assassination. Maulvi Abdul Raqeeb Takhari was Uzbek by cast and was an intelligent politician and influential tribal leader./end