Former Afghan Taliban minister shot dead in Peshawar

A former minister in the Afghan Taliban who was in favour of peace talks with the Kabul government was shot dead in Pakistan.

A member of the Afghan Taliban in Pakistan said armed assailants riding on a motorbike shot Mullah Abdul Raqeeb, killing him on the spot in Peshawar.

According to Dawn News, speaking from Afghanistan, another Taliban member said Raqeeb was part of a group in Peshawar 'which is in favour of making some connection with the Afghan government over possible peace talks'.

Raqeeb, a former minister for refugees during the Taliban regime, was coming out of a religious seminary where he had been teaching when he was attacked, the report added.