Over 140 Afghan troops killed in Taliban attack
At least 140 Afghan soldiers were killed on Friday, when a group of 10 Taliban militants attacked an Afghan Military base in northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
According to the reports, the attackers disguised in military uniforms. One official in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the attack occurred, said on Saturday.
“At least 140 soldiers were killed and many others wounded”, the official told a Pakistan-based website on condition of anonymity.
Other officials said the toll was likely to be even higher.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the government has yet to release official casualty figures.
A US official in Washington on Friday had put the toll at more than 50 killed and wounded.
As many as 10 Taliban fighters, dressed in Afghan army uniforms and driving military vehicles, talked their way onto the base and opened fire on soldiers eating dinner and leaving a mosque after Friday prayers, according to officials. The attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and rifles, they said.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement on Saturday the attack was retribution for the recent killing of several senior Taliban leaders in northern Afghanistan.
The NATO-led military coalition deploys advisers to the base where the attack occurred to train and assist the Afghan forces but coalition officials said no international troops were involved in the attack.
KV Correspondent
