Kabul soldier who killed Afghan Parliament attackers catapulted into fame

Essa Khan Laghmani, the soldier who singlehandedly killed all six Taliban militants who attacked the Afghanistan Parliament last week, has been catapulted into national fame.

Laghmani's feat has offered a rare glimmer of good news after the Taliban's recent offensive has threatened major cities in Afghanistan for the first time in a decade, reported the Express Tribune.

Feted as a 'superhero', Afghan President Ashraf Ghani awarded Laghmani with a three-bedroom apartment, while a former warlord has gifted him a pickup truck.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers have pledged him cash rewards to offer their gratitude.

The Express Tribune has also reported that Laghmani's posters have adorned Kabul while a provincial governor has named a major road after him.

On Monday, a car was detonated outside the Afghan Parliament, followed by a series of explosions which resulted in the immediate evacuation of MPs and journalists from the Parliament.

The attack took place as the new Defence Minister Massoom Stanekzai was being introduced to the MPs.

At least nine explosions were heard within a span of half an hour along with sporadic gunfire.

Security forces were deployed to the area to try to bring the situation under control, said the Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.

All the attackers involved were killed by the special forces after a siege that lasted over an hour.