An Afghan journalist has been shot dead in an attack by unknown gunmen in the central province of Ghor, Afghanistan, in an incidence that has drawn condemnation from the UN, Nato and the European Union.
According to media sources, Bismillah Adil Aimaq was on the road near Feroz Koh, the provincial capital of Ghor, returning home to the city after visiting his family in a village nearby, when gunmen opened fire at the vehicle.
According to the provincial governor’s spokesman, Arif Abir, others in the car, including Aimaq’s brother, were unharmed.
Bismillah Aimaq was the editor-in-chief of a local radio station; Sada-e-Ghor station and was also a human rights activist in the province.
He is at least the fifth journalist to be killed in Afghanistan in the past two months and, according to Reporters without Borders, survived at least one other attempt on his life months ago.
Afghan rights campaigners and pro-government figures have also been targeted in a new and worrying trend.
Many of the incidents go unclaimed by any militant group but officials have accused the Taliban of being responsible for the majority of the killings.
This comes even as talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government are due to resume next week.
The two sides have made some progress on preliminary issues but are yet to begin discussing a ceasefire or power-sharing agreement.