Taliban not behind airport attack, Wardak informs MPs

KABUL):Militants had no involvement in a shooting that killed nine foreign soldiers at the Afghan Air Force Headquarters in Kabul, the defence minister informed parliamentarians on Tuesday.

The shooting was triggered by a verbal clash between an Afghan pilot and one of his foreign counterparts. Nine ISAF were killed and five Afghan soldiers injured in the incident on last Wednesday. The pilot, Ahmad Gul, was also killed in return fire.

Gul had no links to the Taliban, but opened fire after a verbal clash with a foreign soldier, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak told the upper house of Parliament, which summoned him to explain recent security incidents.

The highly-qualified pilot had some mental problem, the said in response to a volley of questions from senators. “Documents show the pilot, involved in gambling, had economic hardships; he sold his house recently,” Wardak added.

Thousands of people, including religious scholars, participated in the funeral for Col. Gul on Monday in the Tarakhel village of Deh Sabz district. Some scholars said the pilot could not tolerate the presence of foreigners in Afghanistan.

myn/mud

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