Afghan political leaders and high-ranking officials at a ceremony in Kabul on Friday commemorated the second death anniversary of former Kandahar police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq, who was assassinated in an attack in Kandahar in October 2018.  

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh at an event on the commemoration of Gen. Raziq’s second death anniversary said some groups are working for “killing” the champions of the country, including Gen. Raziq, and that their hub is in the Taliban’s Quetta council and they have sanctuaries near Kandahar in Pakistan.  

“It is evident that who is behind it, it is evident that who plotted it and its hub is clear that where in the world is it. The name of the Taliban’s leadership council is the council of Quetta and Quetta is the center of Baluchistan of Pakistan,” Saleh said.  

“His (Raziq’s) martyrdom was not only for his courage but it was the result of his patriotism and dedication for this country,” said Salahuddin Rabbani, head of Jamiat-e-Islami party of Afghanistan.  

Raziq had served as Kandahar police chief for nine years. He is survived by 14 children and three wives. His brother, Gen. Tadeen Khan, was appointed as Kandahar police chief after his death.  

“He was sacrificed for politics. He wanted peace but neighboring countries did not want him to remain and see peace,” Tadeen Khan said.  

 Politicians said Gen. Raziq’s views were beyond ethnicity and beyond nationalities and this made him popular and loved among Afghans.  

“For the first time I noticed that there isn’t anything by the name of discrimination in Kandahar,” said Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation.  

Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Achakzai, commonly known as Gen. Raziq, was assassinated in an attack on Thursday afternoon at the Kandahar governor’s compound.  

At only 39, Raziq had made his mark across the country and was a giant presence in the south. He was a fierce patriot and was committed to stamping out terrorism.  

Born in 1979 in Kandahar province, he was raised in Spin Boldak district. Raziq had three wives and many children.