Afghanistan: 140 soldiers die in Mazar-i-Sharif terror attack, PM Modi decries 'cowardly' act
Taliban attackers disguised in military wear attacked an Afghanistan army base on Friday, killing at least 140 Afghan soldiers.
In Short
- Taliban militants attacked an army camp in Afghanistan on Friday.
- The militants were disguised in military uniform.
- PM Modi today tweeted about the attack, expressing condolences.
Local officials in Afghanistan today said that the death toll in Friday's Friday's Taliban attack on an army base in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan's Balkh province, had risen to 140, news agency Reuters reported. Other officials said that the toll was likely to be even higher.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of life in the attack by Taliban militants.
As many as 10 Taliban terrorists launched the attack near a mosque in the base. The gunmen disguised themselves in Afghan military uniform and talked their way past the army base's checkpoints, Reuters said.
PM Modi tweeted about the attack offering condolences to the families of those killed. Modi wrote, "Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-i-sharif. Our prayers and condolences to the familes (sic) who lost loved ones."
ATTACK LAUNCHED AFTER FRIDAY PRAYERS
An Afghan army official told Reuters that the Taliban attack was launched near a mosque in the Mazar-i-Sharif army base as soldiers were leaving Friday prayers.
A total of ten Taliban terrorists in army uniform reached the base's gates where they told guards that they were carrying injured soldiers in their vehicles and needed to urgently needed to enter the base.
The militants then attacked the base, using rocket-propelled grenades and guns. One attacker was killed in the attack while the other five were detained.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attackers had set off an explosion, allowing suicide bombers with small arms to breach the base's defences.
"Our fighters have inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan army stationed there," he said.
The NATO command in Kabul called the attack "murderous and reprehensible"
(With inputs from Reuters)
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