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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Chris York

Morning mail: Hekmatullah living as ‘hero’ in Kabul, Barilaro at inquiry, Australia’s best musicals

Hekmatullah United States Australia Kabul Taliban John Barilaro Labor Guardian Australia Ollie Hoare Afghanistan
A view of Kabul at dusk.
A view of Kabul. The rogue Afghan seargent who killed three unarmed Australian soldiers in Afghanistan a decade ago has been released from jail by the Taliban and is living in a luxury apartment in Kabul. Photograph: EPA

Good morning. The former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro will appear before an inquiry examining his controversial appointment to a lucrative US trade role and Australia is nudging towards becoming the first country to approach 1,000 gold medals in the penultimate day of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

A rogue Afghan soldier who killed three unarmed Australian soldiers in Afghanistan a decade ago is living in a luxury home in the capital Kabul after being treated as a “returning hero” after being released from prison in 2020 by the Taliban. “[Hekmatullah] was welcomed back to Kabul as a hero … with a house, car, guards, an amnesty for his crimes, his expenses are being paid for,” a former Afghan government official confirmed to the Guardian. “He is being treated as a hero.” Hekmatullah has previously said he does not regret the murders and vowed to kill anyone who opposes the Taliban. “I will continue killing Australians. I am among my brothers, we will be free, Afghanistan will be free. We will kill you.”

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