On Sunday, May 13, Arsala Rahmani was shot dead in district 3, Dahburi square, near Kabul University. He was a high profile figure in President Karzai's government as well as worked in key political positions during Mujaheedin's government and Taliban regime. He was the minister of higher education during Taliban regime. Unlike many others, after 2001, when Taliban regime was ousted by US-led military intervention, he easily shifted away and joined the government of President Karzai.

He was strongly welcomed and appointed as a senator in upper house of the parliament by Mr. President. He was one of the most wanted men in US hunting list for top Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders. He was blacklisted by the United Nations, but recently his name was removed along with several other Taliban elements who, apparently, have laid down arms and pursue their demands through the so-called democratic process.

It should be noticed that those armed opposition who joined or joins government in the future would live a life with dignity under the umbrella of government and nobody dared yet to raise voice against them.

Definitely there are personalities who are indirectly accomplice to assassinations and massacres that took place before and during Taliban regime, but no attorney general has yet glimpsed to those touchy figures, indeed.
However, it is not the case only with Taliban leaders or elements who joined government but also with other high profile leaders who are blamed for slaughter of innocent civilians.

Leaving this issue away, the assassination of Arsala Rahmani maintained to impose terrible implication on peace process. He was a key figure in High Peace Council established by Mr. President to hold talks with militants and encourage them to join the government.

Reportedly, he, personally, was against the presence of foreign forces in the country and supported diplomatic efforts to make a peace deal. Though he defected from the Taliban main stream but always supported a kind of Shariah-based government which is indeed a vague definition of the political structure because everyone has their own concept from the Shariah law. It is deemed that he also could easily contact with Taliban fellows and transfer their message to Afghan government and vice versa.

Now his assassination, on one hand, fuels propaganda and murmuring about who was behind the incident because it is deemed far likely that Taliban targeted him because he was their supporter, on the other hand, was strengthening the position of Taliban leaders who try their best to keep less important figures of Taliban who wants to lay down arms and join the peace process. Perhaps, Taliban leaders can argue now that they would not be safe even if they make peace deal.