Yesterday a Brit was shot dead in Kabul. He was not a close friend but I knew him and he has given me a lift in his car. I saw him last Thursday night. I left UNICA guest house yesterday about 30 minutes before the killing and always walked past the place where he was killed. There is no clear reason for his murder but it was obviously targeted and it was done professionally. I suspect it might be something to do with his involvement in poppy eradication. The large bomb last year targeting Dyna coup not far from my office was as a result of Dyna Coup (private security company) being involved in poppy eradication. IOM, who I work for, has a contract for Alternative Livelihoods concerning giving poppy growers an alternative income. I will not be involved in the programme.

This could be a resurgence of violence and targeting foreigners in Afghanistan. The cold winter months tend to reduce the amount of violence. It is difficult to get up the enthusiasm to go out and kill people when it is freezing outside. It is generally thought that the Taliban are unable to organize a coordinated attack anymore. There may be some split in their leadership. However, the drug lords (who may look surprisingly like the war lords who in turn seem to look a little like some recently appointed politicians) are better organized and more powerful.

I will now leave the office this evening and instead of going my usual route will take another. The guards at the Dutch embassy may be feeling a bit tense and I will be walking with a bag and squash racquet.