At least 135 Afghan military personnel were killed and over 60 wounded in a deadly attack by Taliban terrorists on an Army corps base in Mazar-e-Sharif city in Balkh province during Friday prayers. The toll is expected to rise, an official said on Saturday.
The attack was condemned by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NATO and Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah among others.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-e-Sharif. Our prayers and condolences to the families who lost loved ones,” said Indian Prime Minister Modi.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew to Mazar-e-Sharif on Saturday to pay a “courtesy visit” to wounded soldiers, his office said, while General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, praised Afghan commandos for bringing the “atrocity to an end”.
Taliban militants dressed as Army men stormed the 209 Shaheen Corps Headquarters, one of the largest military bases in Mazar-e-Sharif city, during Friday prayers. Ten Taliban militants were killed by the forces, the Defence Ministry said.
“They entered the compound using two Army trucks with machine guns on top of them. They opened fire on everyone. And then they entered the mosque and dining room, killing everyone indiscriminately,” Mohammad Hussain, an Army officer wounded in the attack, said as he was treated in hospital.
Two of the attackers blew themselves up in the raid, which was claimed by the Taliban late Friday and which underscores rising insecurity as Afghanistan braces for an intense spring fighting season.
All were dressed in Afghan army uniforms, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity and adding that no civilians were killed.
Noorullah, a second officer injured in the attack, speculated the militants may have had “inside help”, noting they had to pass through at least seven checkposts before entering the compound.
The Taliban group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said the attack was a retribution for the killings of several senior Taliban leaders in northern Afghanistan.
The military source at the base said there were at least ten attackers, adding that the soldiers were “young recruits who had come for training”.
The toll could change, the Defence Ministry said in a statement, adding it would provide more information once an investigation was completed.
A local official said the toll is expected to rise further as some of the injured are in a critical condition.
Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said Taliban militants wearing Army uniforms stormed the compound during Friday prayers.
Afghanistan CEO Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the “cowardly” attack”. “What Taliban did in Mazar today (Friday) was against all values,” he said.
Former President Hamid Karzai tweeted: “I condemn in strongest terms the terrorist attack on our military base in Mazar-e-Sharif that killed and wounded many of our brave soldiers.”
The NATO Resolute Support Mission also condemned the attack, calling it reprehensible.
General John Nicholson, Commander of NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the attack “shows the barbaric nature of the Taliban”.
“All of us condemn such murderous and reprehensible actions.”
The statement also reaffirmed the NATO’s support to the Afghan forces.
“The Afghan National Defence and Security forces and the people of Afghanistan have my personal assurance that we will continue to stand with them. We support our valuable friends and partners in the fight against terrorism,” it said.
The attack came just two days after Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi visited the base during a trip to Balkh.
It is the second major attack on an Afghan military installation in 2017.
The Taliban in March attacked Sardar Mohammad Daoud military hospital here killing at least 50 persons.
The attack is the deadliest in Afghanistan since July 2016, when two Islamic State suicide bombers killed 80 Hazara protesters.