Unidentified gunmen have shot dead two workers of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in western Herat province, an official said on Saturday.
Jilani Farhad, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the incident took place in the Pul-i-Pashtun area in front of the UN mission’s provincial office on Friday evening.
He said the two UNAMA guards were shopping when gunned down by unknown motorcyclists, who managed to flee the area.
A manhunt had been launched for the killers, he said, adding the motive behind the shooting was yet to be ascertained.
The attack comes weeks after residents and activists of the provincial capital expressed serious concerns over growing insecurity, especially terrorist activities, in the city.
Herat government has banned all unregistered vehicles and motorbikes in the area for a month. The ban went into effect from yesterday.
Governor Abdul Qayyum Rahimi said the restrictions had been put in place to assess the overall security situation in the province.
Sayed Ashraf Sadat, a civil society activist, voiced his deep concern over increasing insecurity, saying basic programs, like an increase in the strength of security forces and intelligence operatives, would help to ensure security in the province.
