Afghan 'hero soldier' of parliament attack arrested in traffic death

[Samandri]

Essa Khan, 24, an Afghan soldier speaks during an interview at the Afghan Parliament entrance gate in Kabul, Afghanistan June 23, 2015.
Reuters/Mohammad Ismail

An Afghan soldier hailed as a hero for defending parliament from a Taliban assault has been arrested after a fatal traffic accident in Kabul involving a car he had been given as a reward, the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday.

Essa Khan became an overnight sensation in Afghanistan after he shot Taliban gunmen trying to enter parliament on June 22 following a car bomb outside the complex in an attack that killed a woman and a child.

His face was plastered on posters and billboards in Kabul as Afghans eagerly embraced a rare bit of good news for the national armed forces struggling against the insurgency this year without backup from U.S. air strikes.

The 28-year-old drew praise from President Ashraf Ghani, who called him a "brave son of this nation" and handed him the keys to a new apartment as a reward.

However, just 10 days after the attack on parliament, Khan was in police custody as a result of a fatal crash in Kabul.

"Essa Khan has been involved in an unfortunate traffic accident in which one civilian lost his life," ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told Reuters. "Police are investigating the case and Essa Khan is in police custody."

He said initial reports were that Khan was at the wheel of the vehicle, which was a gift from First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, an influential former warlord and anti-Taliban fighter, also in recognition of his bravery.

The military was not immediately available for comment on behalf of the soldier, and details of any legal representatives for him were not immediately available.

The Taliban has made territorial gains and launched a series of deadly attacks across the country since announcing a summer offensive, leaving Afghan forces facing their biggest test since NATO combat troops withdrew from the country at the end of 2014.

Afghan 'hero soldier' of parliament attack arrested in traffic death| Reuters

 

[FunkyGen]

lol

 

[Menace2Society]

The level of professionalism in Afghan army and politics is about zero.

 

[Bratva]

must be driving under the influence of cocaine obtained from that afghani General who was caught last week

 

[chauvunist]

Haga pukhto ke matal da che "De tor spee daraee gweray no hazmegee"..

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Kablliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

[syedali73]

This unshaved moron would have been kicked out if he was in Pakistan Army. This ANA looks like a bunch of thugs rather than a professional Army. No wonder even the Generals are involved in drug smuggling, Afghanistan's national sport.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

This ANA looks like a bunch of thugs rather than a professional Army

more like charsis last week an ANA general was caught with a truckload of drugs

 

[Icarus]

Well that was to be expected, the way he was pounding his chest after killing two gunmen almost made me giggle. We have men who have fought off hundreds of Taliban from their positions and have won praise from the enemy himself yet still they have never bragged about it as is expected of a professional soldier. I'm certain that was his first time killing, poor kid just popped his cherry and he's already in the gutter.

 

[nForce]

The level of professionalism in Afghan army and politics is about zero.

They are trying to rebuild a society that has been ruined down to it's bones. Of course it is not going to be that good.

So far as this case is concerned, I like the idea of creating heroes out of common people. Probably gifting him the car was a bad idea. He is, afterall a young man who just got his car and pumped up in adrenaline.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

They are trying to rebuild a society that has been ruined down to it's bones. Of course it is not going to be that good.

So far as this case is concerned, I like the idea of creating heroes out of common people. Probably gifting him the car was a bad idea. He is, afterall a young man who just got his car and pumped up in adrenaline.

'28' is not a young man.

 

[nForce]

'28' is not a young man.

Whaat ? Not talking about girls here..He is 24 BTW

 

[Areesh]

Perfect case of izzat raas na aana.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

'28' is not a young man.

What's this on the article then?

The 28-year-old drew praise from President Ashraf Ghani, who called him a "brave son of this nation" and handed him the keys to a new apartment as a reward.

 

[StormShadow]

Maybe there is a threat to his life from the taliban and their ba.stard masters... so this is a ploy to safeguard him. He got too much attention.