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Afghanistan
Taliban horse-trade for body of police chief killer
2018-11-06
[DAWN] The Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
is demanding the body of an assassin who rubbed out a powerful Afghan police chief, in return for the remains of 13 people killed in an army helicopter crash in territory controlled by the turbans.

Tribal elders in the restive western province of Farah bordering Iran have been handling negotiations for the exchange of bodies for nearly a week.

So far only 12 of the 25 people killed in the helicopter accident in Taliban-controlled Anar Dara district on October 31 have been given to Afghan authorities.

Officials blamed bad weather for the crash, but the Taliban claimed its fighters brought down the aircraft.

"We want to hand over the bodies from the helicopter crash to their respective families via the International Committee for the Red Thingy, but on condition that the enemy hand over the body of martyred fighter Zabihullah Abu Dajana, who killed Commander Abdul Raziq, to his family," Taliban front man Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said in WhatsApp message.

Among the bodies returned were those of provincial councillor Jamila Amini, civilians and businessmen, Farah governor front man Nasir Mehri told AFP.

"No military officials have been recovered yet," Mehri said.

Farah police front man Mohibullah Mohib confirmed that 12 bodies had been recovered thanks to the efforts of tribal elders.

"The rest of them are still with the enemy," he added.

The bodies still in Taliban hands include those of the deputy army corps commander for western Afghanistan and the head of the Farah provincial council.

Posted by:Fred

00:00