Dawa khan Menapal, Director of Government media and information center (GMIC), was assassinated in an attack by armed men on Friday afternoon in Kabul city, the Interior Ministry (MoI) confirmed.

Mirwais Stanikzai, a spokesman for the MoI, stated that Menapal was gunned down in the Darul Aman area of the city.

Menapal had served as deputy presidential spokesman for several years before assuming the post as director of government media and information center.

The Taliban in a tweet has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The assassination comes just days after the Taliban attacked Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi’s house in Kabul.

The group stated that the bomb-and-attack was in response to the Afghan forces’ airstrikes against the militants. The Taliban has also issue warning to carry out more attacks against the Afghan top officials.

In a tweet, U.S. Charge d’Affaires Ross Wilson said he was saddened and disgusted by the killing of Menapal, who he called a friend and colleague whose career was focused on providing truthful information to all Afghans.

“These murders are an affront to Afghans’ human rights & freedom of speech, ” he said.