Furious Afghans call for resignations after Taliban base attack

Afghan relatives carry the coffin of an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier killed in a Taliban attack on an army base, in Takhar province on April 23, 2017. / AFP / NASEER SADEQ

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan // Afghan families buried their dead and the country observed a national day of mourning on Sunday after at least 100 soldiers were killed or wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base.

The raid, the deadliest-ever by the Taliban on a military base, prompted angry calls for ministers and army chiefs to resign.

The exact toll from Friday’s assault in the northern province of Balkh remained unclear, with some local officials putting the number of dead alone as high as 150.

The defence ministry gave a figure of at least 100 soldiers killed or wounded in the five-hour attack near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country and special prayers were said for the dead.

But local officials including, Mohammad Ibrahim Khairandish the head of the provincial council, said 130 had been killed and 60 were wounded.

Ten gunmen dressed in soldiers’ uniforms and armed with suicide vests entered the base in army trucks and opened fire at unarmed troops at close range in the mosque and dining hall.

A military source at the base, which served the 209th Corps, said the assault was an insider attack, and the militants were “young recruits who had come for training”.

In the village of Omra Kot in Balkh, the coffin of soldier Shir Mohammad, 25, was brought home to a house full of weeping relatives.

Qari Ahmadullah, Shir’s brother who also served as imam at the base, said: “My brother just got married four months ago and now he is dead. The Taliban are the enemy of Islam and Muslims: they are misusing the name of Islam to hide their atrocities.”

After the body was buried at a nearby hill, local resident Faiz Mohammad spoke of people’s fears.

“We always thought our house is safe because of the base but now we are shocked. How could this have happened? I can’t believe we lost all these young men.”

There was also growing anger online, with many slamming the government for its inability to counter a series of brazen militant assaults, including one on the country’s largest military hospital in Kabul in March that killed dozens.

Twelve army officers, including two generals, were sacked for negligence over that attack.

“Mothers lost their sons, sisters lost their brothers and wives lost their husbands. What is the government doing to prevent such atrocities, only condemning? I am so tired, I can’t do anything but to cry,” a user called Zabiullah posted on Facebook about the latest tragedy.

“The best way to honour them is to fire and punish those who failed to do their jobs and/or co-operated with the enemy. Some leaders must go!” said another user on Twitter.

President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi said a thorough investigation had been ordered.

“Investigations must be acceptable to the nation and the president,” he said, adding “At this moment, the people of Afghanistan need to unite like a strong fist.”

Many internet commentators called for the resignation of defence minister Abdullah Habibi and the commander of the 209th Corps stationed at the base.

“This was no act of desperation. The Taliban infiltrated an Afghan military base. That’s a major sign of strength,” tweeted Washington-based analyst Michael Kugelman.

Afghan troops and police, beset by killings and desertions, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led Nato troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Afghan security force casualties soared by 35 per cent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to US watchdog SIGAR.

*Agence France-Presse