MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): A former jihadi commander was shot dead along with his brother by his foes in northern Balkh province on Saturday, police and residents said.

Commander Mohammad Zahir was killed because of old enmity in the Sholgara district in the afternoon, police spokesman, Sher Jan Durrani, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Five suspects detained in connection with the incident were being interrogated, the spokesman said.

A resident of the Madrassa village, Mohammad Ali, linked the clash between the rival groups to their old enmity dating back to the jihad era.

Zahir was a former commander of the Harkat-i-Islami Afghanistan group. He would travel in the area, escorted by gunmen.

His foes attacked him in the Ghalchai neighbourhood, killing him and his brother Aghan Jan, the resident said.

ma/mud