Top Afghan Police Chief Killed By Own Guard In Attack Targeting Nato Commander

Gen. Abdul Raziq, Kandahar police chief, August 2016. (Picture: Massoud Hossaini/PA)

Three top Kandahar province officials have been killed by their own guards in an attack at a security meeting that also wounded two US troops.

A Taliban spokesman who claimed responsibility for the attack said US General Scott Miller, commander of US and Nato troops in Afghanistan, was the target.

Nato officials said Gen Miller escaped unharmed but confirmed: 

"Three Americans were wounded - one service member, one civilian and one contractor.

"They have been medically evacuated and are stable.”

Kandahar's deputy provincial governor Agha Lala Dastageri said powerful provincial police chief Abdul Razik and the province's intelligence chief Abdul Mohmin died immediately in the attack and provincial governor Zalmay Wesa died of his injuries at a hospital.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi took responsibility for the attack.

He too said all three officials were killed.

The security meeting inside the sprawling provincial governor's residence was being held ahead of Saturday's parliamentary elections.

Earlier, six Czech soldiers were wounded when a Taliban suicide blast targetted a Nato convoy near Kabul.