Special Report-Afghan pilots assassinated by Taliban as U.S. withdraws

Afghan National Army 215th Corps troops disembark an Afghan Air Force (AAF) Black Hawk helicopter during a troop re-supply at Camp Shorabak in Helmand Province July 28, 2018. Picture taken July 28, 2018. U.S. Marine Corps/1st Lt. Kathleen Kochert/Handout via REUTERS

KABUL, (Reuters) - Afghan Air Force Major Dastagir Zamaray had grown so fearful of Taliban assassinations of off-duty forces in Kabul that he decided to sell his home to move to a safer pocket of Afghanistan's sprawling capital.

Instead of being greeted by a prospective buyer at his realtor's office earlier this year, the 41-year-old pilot was confronted by a gunman who walked inside and, without a word, fatally shot the real estate agent in the mouth.