Unidentified gunmen shot dead the most senior woman police officer in southern Afghanistan on September 28. Lieutenant-Colonel Malalai was killed in her car in an area of Kandahar city where she resumed her job as an officer after U.S.-led forces in 2001 overthrew the Taliban government which had barred women from most outdoor work.
She had led many police house searches in Kandahar leading to seizure of arms and drugs in recent years. Her son was wounded in the attack. The 45-year-old had survived several assassination attempts.