Afghans condole killing of Japnese doc who served them for decade

Given the turbulent situation in Afghanistan this incident should not have attracted the attention of the world. However, this 73-year-old doctor of Japanese origin had spent over a decade in carrying out water projects in rural Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani had granted honorary citizenship to Dr Nakamura in recognition of his services. What is more, hundreds of Afghanistani citizens sported the portrait of Dr Nakamura and condemned the killing indicating the respect he commended in the Afghan society.

No wonder then the entire Japan was appalled and anguished by the brutal killing of Dr Tetsu nakamura. Shortly after the ambush, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave a condolence message which read “As a doctor, Mr. Nakamura has made a great contribution in the field of medical assistance in Afghanistan, "he told reporters.

The Prime Minister then pointed out that Nakamura risked his life every day “in a dangerous and intense region”. The head secretary of the government, Yoshihide Suga, this morning says that Japan “firmly condemns the vile attack, which will not be forgiven.”

The Taliban had denied their involvement in this ambush. The Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that they had no connection with this ambush and they do not consider the Japanese humanitarian organization as a target in their holy war to create Islamic emirate.

Nakamura was working in Nangarhar province for over a decade and was carrying out water projects in rural areas. These had earned him the nickname “Uncle Murad” for his services to the population. Last April, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani granted him honorary citizenship.

The doctor died from his injuries shortly after gunmen opened fire on his car. According to the spokesman of the provincial governor, Attaullah Khogyani, Nakamura was heading for the provincial capital, Jalalabad, when the attack took place. A surgical operation was needed at a local medical facility: the man died during the air transport to the Bagram hospital, in the capital Kabul.

Nakamura was the head of the Japanese charity, Peace Medical Service, since 2008. He arrived in Afghanistan after a Japanese colleague, Kazuya Ito, was kidnapped and killed. Nakamura is credited with having changed a vast tract in the Nangarhar desert, known as Gamber, into lush forests and wheat fields.

President Ghani's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, condemned his murder, calling it ‘heinous act and a cowardly attack on one of Afghanistan’s greatest friends.’ “Dr. Nakamura dedicated all his life to change the lives of Afghans, worked on water management, dams and improvement of traditional agriculture in Afghanistan,” Sediqqi added.

The Governor of Nangarhar, Shah Mahmood Meyakhail, expressed his condolences, declaring that the population of the province was pained and remained grateful for the services that the Japanese doctor has provided for over a decade. Hundreds of Afghans have published photographs of Nakamura on their social pages, condemning the killing and underlining how much the Japanese doctor was respected. (Inputs from agencies)