Search the Internet          Tips

Afghan embassy denies Masood's death

P Jayaram in New Delhi

Afghan opposition leader Ahmed Shah Masood and the country's recognised envoy to India, Masood Khalili, were injured when two Algerian suicide bombers posing as television journalists set off an explosion at Masood's base at Khodja Bahauddin in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, the Afghan embassy in New Delhi said on Monday.

"Both the Algerians and Gen Masood's interpreter, Azim Suhail, who had brought them for the interview, were killed in the explosion," a spokesman for the embassy, Ahmad Ahmadi, told the Indo-Asian News Service.

He said Masood, known as the 'Lion of Panjsher' since his heroic exploits to protect the strategic valley from the occupying Red Army in the 1980s, was injured in the legs and shoulder in the blast, which took place at his base at Khodja Bahauddin in Takhar province.

Khalili, a close friend of Masood, who was with him at the time of the attempted assassination, also sustained minor injuries.

Asked about media reports that Masood too died in the blast, the spokesman said: "This is totally wrong. I spoke to his base 10 minutes back. He is very much alive. He was only injured."

Masood, 49, is the military leader of the opposition Northern Alliance, which has been battling the Taleban forces that control 90 per cent of the country.

The forces led by Masood had put up strong resistance against the Red Army of the erstwhile Soviet Union during the 1980s. He led the anti-Taleban opposition after the fundamentalist militia took power in Afghanistan and controls 10 per cent of the country.

According to reports, forces led by Masood have been inflicting heavy casualties on the Taleban of late.

India continues to recognise the Northern Alliance, whose political leader is ousted president Burhanuddin Rabbani. His government is also recognised by the United Nations and several other countries.

The spokesman said the two suicide bombers had entered the opposition-controlled territory in the guise of journalists a few days ago and interviewed the alliance's forces in Shomali, about 50km from Kabul, and other places. They were then taken to Masood's base to interview him.

There was no doubt that the bombers were sent by the Taleban, he added.

Some reports said Masood was being treated in a hospital in Afghanistan while others said he had been transferred to a hospital in Dushanbe, capital of neighbouring Tajikistan.

Russian media reports, quoting defence sources in Tajikistan, confirmed Masood's hospitalisation, but some Iranian sources were quoted as saying that Masood died of his wounds on his way to Dushanbe.

Indo-Asian News Service

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report