Karzai adviser killed in Kabul gunbattle

A prominent adviser to the Afghan president has been killed in a gun battle in Kabul.

Jan Mohammad Khan was a former governor of Uruzgan province in Afghanistan’s turbulent south.

It comes only days after the assassination of President Hamid Karzai’s half-brother. Ahmad Wali Karzai was killed by one of his bodyguards — the Taliban claimed they organised the murder.

The attack on Khan’s home was the second night raid within weeks as Taliban gunmen show they are able to target President Karzai’s inner circle.

Meanwhile Canada has begun pulling some of its troops out after their combat mission ended last month.

They are part of nearly 3,000 Canadian soldiers heading home as operations change to a non-combat role.

Although the recent upsurge in Taliban strikes has shown they are adept in changing their tactics, a gradual handover of security from foreign troops to Afghan control has started with the central province of Bamyan.

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