Religious council member shot dead in Afghanistan

A provincial religious council member was shot and killed following an armed attack in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province on Monday, police said.

"Member of Helmand's Religious Council Mawlawi Abdul Karim was martyred after two armed men opened fire on him at around 3:30 p.m. (local time) Monday," provincial police spokesman Farid Ahmad Obaid told Xinhua.

Karim, a tribal elder, was walking near his house in Sahfyan locality of provincial capital Lashkar Gah when came under attack. Karim was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries later on the day, the spokesman said.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claim such attacks.

The Taliban has intensified attacks over the past couple of months as the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) assumed the full security charges from NATO-led troops after a four-year security transition earlier this month.

The civilians considered to be supporting government, civilian government employees, religious leaders, tribal elders and persons involved in peace and reconciliation efforts came under attack in targeted killings.

Earlier on the day, a ceremony was held in Gereshk District north of Lashkar Gah, to mark the end of security transition from NATO-led troops to Afghan army and police.

Several tribal elders, religious figures, provincial and defense ministry military officials attended the ceremony held in army Corps 2015 Maywand in the province, 555 km south of Afghan capital of Kabul.

On Jan. 1 this year, the U.S. and NATO-led troops switched from combat to support role -- NATO-led Resolute Support mission, which will focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces. Nearly 13,000 foreign forces will be involved in the mission, according to NATO officials in the central Asian country. Endi