BBC Journalist Killed In Afghanistan Bomb Blast

A reporter for the BBC’s world service and Pajhwok Afghan News agency was killed in a Taliban fuelled bomb blast on Thursday (28).

Ahmed Omed Khpalwak worked for the BBC Pashto service since 2005 and reported for Pajhwok Afghan News agency since 2009.

Peter Horrocks, director of BBC Global News, was quoted as saying ‘Only this morning he was reporting on BBC Pashto about another Taliban attack that happened last night. The BBC and the whole world are grateful to journalists like Ahmed Omed who courageously put their lives on the line to report from dangerous places’.

Khpalwak was amongst 19 others that were killed in the attack that took place in the Uruzgan province. The attack involved multiple bombings and gunfire which was directed at the deputy governor’s office and local militia that defends NATO convoys.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack but have laid the death of the journalist down at the feet of the police. Afghan authorities have refuted such claims calling them ‘baseless’. One policeman and ten children are also amongst the dead.

Source: The Sunday Leader – 31.07.2011