Afghan peace negotiator killed

Kabul, May 13 (IANS) Arsallah Rahmani, a member of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, was gunned down here Sunday, a media report said.

Rahmani, a former Taliban leader, was fatally shot Sunday, reported Xinhua citing a TV report.

Rahmani, who served as minister for higher education during Taliban regime, had switched sides after the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 and since then used to live in Kabul.

He had also served as a senator and advocated for finding negotiated settlement to Afghan crisis.

No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the murder.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan government in a statement released earlier this month announced launching spring offensive dubbed "Al-Farooq" which includes targeting security forces, member of peace council and government officials.

Last September, a turbaned suicide bomber disguised as a Taliban emissary blew himself up during talks with Burhanudin Rabbani, the former chief of High Peace Council, in his Kabul residence, killing him on the spot.