A number of Kabul-based analysts said they see the involvement of neighboring countries’ intelligence agencies in the plot to assassinate Gen. Abdul Raziq, police chief of Kandahar, who lost his life in a shootout near the provincial governor’s compound on Thursday afternoon.

The analysts said Raziq was a big hurdle on the way of interferences of neighboring countries in the southern zone. 

Raziq was a serious face against the Taliban and Pakistan as he had repeatedly accused neighboring countries especially Pakistan of interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan.

In a recent move last week, Gen. Raziq ordered his forces to prevent Pakistani forces from building fences along the Durand Line in areas related to Spin Boldak district in Kandahar.

“The main reason for assassination of Gen. Raziq is the remarks of Pakistani generals who told the Kandahar corps commander that Gen. Raziq is violating the central government’s order on building fences along the Durand Line. Therefore, it was decided there (in Pakistan) that Gen. Raziq should not remain in the region anymore,” said Matiullah Kharoti, a political affairs analyst.

“They have their infiltrators among the people, at any level. They (attackers) did not enter the province by parashot or from the air. They were directed and they were taken there. What has happened there (in Kandahar) was from inside,” said Atiqullah Amarkhail, a military affairs analyst.

Other analysts said Gen. Raziq had a key role in security of the south zone.

“The south zone was secure even up to Ghazni by him (Raziq). He was there whether there was an attack in Uruzgan, Helmand or in Ghazni,” said Mahmoud Marhoon, a university lecturer.

Meanwhile, another analyst from Kabul, Miagul Khalid, said he asks government to appoint a suitable person as Kandahar police chief to ensure that Kandahar’s security is not affected as much as it is expected.

“His place cannot be filled by anyone and the security will be affected somehow. I hope that government will pay attention to this matter and appoint a right person instead of him,” Khalid said.

In one of his recent speeches last week, Raziq had assured the people to ensure a safe environment for October 20 elections in Kandahar.

The remarks come as Pakistan Embassy in Kabul condemned the Kandahar attack in a statement which was released hours after the incident.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack reportedly resulting in the sad demise of senior Kandahar security officials and causing injuries to many others," the statement said.

The statement added that Pakistan stands with the Afghan government and people and reiterates its support for the Afghan democratic process.