BAGRAM, Afghanistan, July 29 (UPI) -- A regional Afghan politician and his son were shot and killed Sunday by insurgents in the eastern province of Wardak, police said.
District Gov. Mohammad Ismail Wafa and his unidentified son were gunned down in a car while they were traveling to his office, Khaama Press reported.
Wafa was pronounced dead at the scene, while his son died later in hospital, the report said.
Wardak Provincial Gov. Mohammad Halim Fadai issued a harsh rebuke to the perpetrators and "ordered security officials to arrest the perpetrators of this horrific act and bring them to justice as soon as possible."
NATO's International Security Assistance Force issued a statement saying "no suspected militant has been detained in connection to the incident so far and Afghan security forces have launched a search operation in this regard."
Elsewhere, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a news release 17 Taliban militants were killed following military operations in five provinces by Afghan security forces and 18 other suspects had been taken into custody.
