“I wish the President could feel my pain”

KABUL (SW): Three weeks ago, a group of young police cadets and officers, who were heading from central Midan Wardak province to the capital Kabul to spend the Eid festivity at home with their families, were targeted by suicide attacks in the Qal-e-Haidar Khan area.

Official statement announced the death toll as 32, eyewitnesses, however said that no one survived the attack that took place at Qal-e-Haidar Khan area of Kabul. To picture the tragedy, Salam Watandar has conducted a series of interviews with the victims’ families. SW has also made efforts to portray the private life of the policemen who were killed on the occasion.

The 22-year old Mohammad Amin, who hailed from Shakar Dara district of Kabul, was one of the many victims. Mohammad Amin was married. His wife was pregnant with their second child. The first one died as an infant, and unfortunate Amin could not survive the blast to hold his second baby. Amin’s 22-year old wife has been in shock since she heard about the death of her husband.

"My son joined police department just three months ago", his mother said. She said the President would only sense the pain of her grief, if he had lost his own son. Mohammad Nazir; Amin’s father is a retired army officer. He said that his son was passionate to save the lives of his countrymen, and therefore he joined the security forces. Nazir said that the government has paid him a small amount of money for Amin’s funeral. He said that nothing can replace his son.

This retired officer criticized the government, stating that it should not allow the terrorists to slaughter innocent people. Mohammad Nazir urged the government to put an end to the innocents’ killings. Amin’s many family members are serving in the security institutions. His brother is a police officer and is currently serving in the southern Zabul province

The attack on police convoy raised many questions. A number of people are of the view that it was an inside job. Though, the Afghan government tasked a fact-finding commission, and it has so far suspended as many as 10 senior officers yet the event remains a mystery.

ENDS