Ex-Afghan commander shot and killed in Quetta
Haji Woror Achakzai, a former police commander of Kandahar’s Second City, was shot and killed in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, on Sunday. Reports indicate that armed men opened fire on Achakzai while he was sitting at a shop in the Hazarganji area of Quetta. The attack resulted in his death, but the motive behind the shooting and the identity of the attackers remain unknown.
Sources reveal that Achakzai had previously served as a police commander under the former Afghan government. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, he left the country and relocated to Balochistan, settling in Quetta. His move was part of a broader pattern of former Afghan security personnel seeking refuge in neighboring regions.
Achakzai was described as a close associate of General Abdul Raziq Achakzai, the former police commander of Kandahar and a prominent security figure in southern Afghanistan. Abdul Raziq was assassinated in October 2018 during an attack at the Kandahar governor’s compound, just before a scheduled meeting with senior US officials. The connection between the two figures highlights Achakzai’s influential background.
The killing of Achakzai comes shortly after a reported clash among former Afghan security personnel in the Mian Ghundi area of Quetta on August 14. According to local reports, one individual, identified as Mansoor Popalzai, was killed in the incident, while seven others sustained injuries. The injured were reportedly taken to Civil Hospital Quetta for treatment.
The individuals involved in the clash were said to be former Afghan security personnel who had fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover. Some of these individuals had previously been relocated from Saranan after reportedly coming under drone attack, indicating ongoing tensions and security challenges among Afghan expatriates in the region.
There are also allegations from Baloch “pro-independence” groups that some former Afghan security personnel residing in Balochistan have been recruited or utilized by Pakistani military forces. These groups claim that such personnel have been involved in operations against Baloch armed groups, including through the use of alleged “death squads.” However, Pakistani authorities have not publicly responded to or commented on these claims.
The exact circumstances surrounding Achakzai’s killing remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether it is connected to the recent clashes among former Afghan security personnel. Pakistani authorities have yet to issue a detailed public statement regarding the incident or identify those responsible for the shooting.
