Afghan parliament attack: Meet national hero Essa Khan

Kabul, June 24: Essa Khan, an ordinary Afghan soldier gained fame soon after the suicide attack took place at Afghan parliament.

He was praised by media for his heroic act as he shot dead six of seven attackers who carried out attack at the premise on Monday.

Taliban insurgents appear to be gaining ground and a government formed after last year's messy election is still mired in disputes, news agency reported.

"I started shooting them one by one. I counted six of them lying there. The last one (seventh) was killed by someone else, "said Essa Khan while narrating the attack.

The 28-year-old even met President Ashraf Ghani, who called him a "brave son of this nation" and handed him the keys to a new apartment as a reward.

President Ghani termed him "brave son of this nation".

President has also handed him the keys to a new apartment as a reward.
The Afghan army has long been popular in a country where the majority of people oppose the Taliban and its violent methods.

The Taliban has made territorial gains and launched a series of deadly attacks across the country since announcing a summer offensive, leaving Afghan forces facing their biggest test since NATO combat troops withdrew from the country at the end of 2014.

One woman and a child were killed and 30 others wounded in the attack, though the assailants did not manage to enter the parliamentary compound itself, in part thanks to Khan's quick thinking.

OneIndia News