KABUL (SW): There are conflicting reports about the death toll following the Taliban’s attack on a regional Afghan National Army (ANA) headquarters in the Mazar-e-Sharif city on Friday.
The Taliban stormed the headquarters of the 209-Shaheen Corps of the ANA in the Balkh province in the afternoon. According to the officials, the assault began at around 14:00hrs local time. At the end of the attack in the evening, officials said five attackers were killed and one captured alive, while the death of eight soldiers was confirmed. Unconfirmed reports, however, indicate the death toll is much higher.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have vowed to have killed ‘hundreds’ of soldiers in this attack. Zabehullah Mujahid, spokesman for the militants, has said in a message shared with the local media that three top commanders of the ANA are among those killed in this attack.
Qahar Aaram, spokesman for the 209-Shaheen Corps, has said the attackers attacked soldiers in the mosque and dining hall. The attack has been widely condemned by the officials and representatives of the international community in Afghanistan.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has rushed to the site of the attack in Balkh province.
ENDS
