For Journalist, Conflict In Afghanistan Hits Close To Home
Bilal Sarwari is a local correspondent for the BBC in Kabul, and over a week ago, he was called to report on yet another insurgent attack that had left civilians dead.
This particular attack, however, was different for him. Among those killed were Sarwari's friend and fellow journalist Sarwar Ahmad, his wife and two of his three children. A third child is recovering in a Kabul hospital. They were eating in the restaurant at the luxury Serena hotel when gunmen opened fire. Five other people were killed in the shooting.
It is one of several attacks launched by the Taliban in Kabul ahead of this week's presidential election. On Saturday, the heavily fortified election commission headquarters came under fire. But the attack on the Serena hotel resonated with the close-knit community of Afghan journalists in a different way.
“ My heart just bleeds, because an entire family have disappeared. A family of hope, a family of success, a family that was very committed. Sarwar began everything; his achievements were tremendous. And Afghanistan lost a very brave journalist who had been able to give the people of Afghanistan a voice.