Taliban hid in bombed hospital, claims Afghan Defence Minister
46
KABUL: Afghanistan's acting Defence Minister says the hospital that was bombed by United States (US) forces was being used by insurgents who were fighting government forces.
Masoom Stanekzai said on Monday that Taliban insurgents and possibly Pakistani operatives had used the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) facility in the city of Kunduz as a "safe place".
The minister's statement follows an Associate Press report last week which claimed American special operations analysts were gathering intelligence on the facility because they believed it was being used by a Pakistani operative to coordinate Taliban activity.
Pakistan has, however, rejected these reports. Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah had said, "Allegations implicating Pakistan are baseless."
Khalilullah said, "I want to reiterate that non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs is a key pillar of our Afghan policy," adding that Pakistan is fully committed towards preventing its territory from being used against any other country, including Afghanistan.
The hospital was bombed by a US AC-130 gunship in the early hours of Oct 3, killing at least 22 people and injuring many more. The main building was destroyed and the hospital has closed.
After the deadly air strike, US President Barack Obama apologised for the attack on the MSF hospital.
The medical charity has repeatedly denied the presence of Taliban fighters at the time.
Stanekzai says a Taliban flag had been hoisted on the walls around the hospital compound.
He says Afghanistan will not support an independent investigation, as the charity has demanded.
Also read: Allegations implicating Pakistani operative in Kunduz hospital bombing baseless: FO
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (46) Closed
Oct 19, 2015 03:20pm
It is getting funny by the day. What Afghan govt officials are saying means MSF a.k.a 'Doctors without borders' is a terrorist organisation. Or at least they abetted terrorism. Do they even know what they are saying?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:22pm
Malicious blame games. Soon they will miraculously find ammunition from the rubble as well.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:24pm
So if Taliban flag is hoisted on a hospital in a war zone, you will bomb it? What a piece of inhuman logic. By the way it is lie. Only reason is that Afghan doctors working there had low opinion of the Afghan forces bombing of Kunduz,which they showed in their facebook message.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:28pm
If that is so, then why did the US offer an apology? No wonder Afghanistan is the most backward country in the world!
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:29pm
To me it is becoming clear that Afghans probably provided incorrect intelligence to the trigger-happy US led coalition forces and now everyone is looking for excuses to save themselves. Even if there were Taliban in the hospital, bombing the whole hospital makes absolutely no sense.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:42pm
Amazing lies..
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:43pm
These Karzai mindset people need to get a life. They need to control their own country. Knowing US policy and history, they would never apologize if they think they are right. NO MATTER WHAT! Just recently US general has apologized for the incident. Secondly if Afghan govt. Knew about the operatives then why did they not take action and tried to save patients and doctors. Thirdly at Pak has done the cleaning operation on on their side. Afghanistan has to do the same or refrain from blaming Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:44pm
In case of confirm presence of Taliban, the only option was to cordon the hospital until their arrest. By bombing, intentionally destroyed all the evidence. Well-done
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:47pm
The fact that Afghanistan does not want an independent inquiry is HIGHLY suspicious. Taliban have now issued a series of statements alleging propaganda against them around Kunduz. MSF has said there were no firing from within hospital grounds as did Taliban. We must not forget the MSF statement, an incident in July where 3 staff were allegedly assaulted and threatened by Afghan Special Forces for treating all sides. Afghanistan forces called for air strike, could bombing have been a revenge attack?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 03:48pm
Joke of the day.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:01pm
No wonder Afghanistan is in such a bad state due to these northern alliance related thugs and their mentors the Indian infamous intelligence agency RAW. Their statements and behaviors are abhorrent. Do these so called Afghan leaders even realize that a foreign power has just bombed the Hospital on their territory, and the issue for them is, "hey, it was because some Pakistani was hiding there". Do these people have no self respect or sense of nationalism? Are these people even from Afghanistan? have they got any stake in Afghanistan? I doubt so.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:05pm
Ill minded people
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:06pm
Lets on denial mode..!!!
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:12pm
Afghanistan has a puppet regime!!
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:14pm
What is the harm in supporting an independent probe in the human tragedy? Why is Afghan government so reluctant in helping expose the war criminals? The popular and antique tactic used by the US that "deadly weapons" were the cause of the attack won't work in today's international affairs.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:16pm
I wonder why didn't the Pakistani operatives didn't hide in Masoom Stanekzai house? Could have been a safer place - May be
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:17pm
Still doesn't give you the right to bomb a hospital!
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:17pm
"Afghanistan will not support an independent investigation, as the charity has demanded" Why?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:19pm
The baseless accusation will not solve the problem by keeping Afghani refugee in Pakistan for a long time the words from the minister does not help the situation in brother countries. The blame game must stop constructive talk should start.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:24pm
The way afghan government is blaming nabouring country where they had lived for decades to save their skin from the Russians and other forces make no sense at all to forget all assistance provided by pakistan during the difficult time. Secondly, the government approach towards calm down the infighting in afghan society would never succeed if such blame-game remain continue just to hold the top slot in government to avail handsome perks from the public exchequer. I would suggest all ill-minded people to wake up for the betterment of your people suffering since the last three decades.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:27pm
Afghanistan needs to sort out their issue of private army the lords who keeps 10000 men's strong and whenever they see dollars they change their loyalties and what about drugs trade which is basically increased since the afghan government and western forces presence so where that money is going you know where it's transferring back to west by corrupt afghans who never want they're country to be in peace because how come they generate their income then.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:32pm
Its a shame that Afghan defense minister will go to any extent to justify calling an air strike by afghan forces. US has already apologized for a mistaken attack why Afghans are so keen to prove otherwise. Are Indians in Kabul this week?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:34pm
Pakistan should as a policy kick out all Afghani refugees back to there land without delay they are ungrateful .They are vultures ,drug traffickers let them deal with their own problems as they are there own problems
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:35pm
All the readers are blindly believing the FO who said no Taliban in hospital. They are finding out so lets wait for the results of the findings.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:35pm
why are we so defensive in response to such preposterous allegations?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:36pm
@Shuaib Bhat Puppets with strings pulled by India
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 04:51pm
So we bombed all civilians and doctors in there. As if this Abdullah Abdullah govt could get more funny.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 05:05pm
Even if we assume the Taliban hid in the hospital, it does not mean they should bomb the doctors and patients. All that was needed was a commando action to flush them out of this 'sacred place' of healing. Horrible logic.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 05:37pm
Easy option for these cold-blooded Afghani politicians/ officials, to put all debris on Pakistan. Internal incompetence can't be justified with external accusations.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:17pm
This just shows how ill informed and out of control these puppets are.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:21pm
@Ramesh Nakhwa who is finding out ? Do you even know that the Afghans have refused an independent inquiry ? Why ? So what does that tell you ?
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:22pm
A bollywood movie!!!
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:26pm
The Afghans need to distance themselves from RAW and India. Their are poisoning their brains. Now the Afghans think just like Indians, they see a Pakistani behind every shadow!! lol
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:30pm
I want peaceful prosperous modern secular Afghanistan where Taliban has not any role in it because those nation who support power sharing role for Taliban should not forget that Taliban are against women right and human right example is Malala. they want to live and let live in stone age
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:30pm
Someone please ask this defence minister, even if some talban were taking refuge in the hospital, would you then bomb the hospital to kill all the patients? And isn't it shameful for the your Afghan govenment that an internationally acknowledged organisation, MSF - doctors without borders (who were operating the hospital) is negating what you say and they are asking for an independent enquiry which you are against as you know that yours is a mere propaganda
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 06:34pm
I hard that ones upon a time Afghanistan was very peaceful modern prospers a country like west and women got liberty like men western country in daily life and live like modern society alas Taliban has destroyed every thing including bamian Buddha
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 07:01pm
It you a while to come to this conclusion.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 07:12pm
US intelligence input was based on solid ground intelligence.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 07:56pm
Might have, possibly, may be. Please Mr. Defense Minister, at international level while accusing another country either you should bring forward solid prove or keep your mouth shut. By speculating like this you are only spoiling the tender relations between two countries which is very important for peace in entire region.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 08:24pm
Cruelty , negligence and foolishness at its height.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 08:35pm
Here we go again, another Afghan official lying
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 09:19pm
@Tsriq I second your opinion, kick them out without delay and stop the trade routes then see how they'll beg on their knees. Being of Afghan origin I know these people can only be controlled with a big stick and not a soft approach.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 09:31pm
Masoom Stankezai's comment was based on Associated Press report that Pakistani Intelligence was operating from that hospital, which could be a false report.
Recommend
0
Oct 19, 2015 09:57pm
Every one around the world knows about the success of zarb-e-azb....so it must be difficult to prove our hand right?? we know that but keep trying! and very soon InshaAllah we will throw your afghans out.....keep working hard it will make easy for us to send your people back and as soon as possible!
Recommend
0
Oct 20, 2015 03:34am
if there was pak involvement as the minister says the US definitely would hv reached that concludipn and they would hv raised serious and threatening accusations. but we hv here obama apologizing to th french. the fact is northern alliance which is part of coalition eith Afghan ghani do not like to share power witj taliban hence refusal to talk.
Recommend
0
Oct 20, 2015 04:55am
Afghanistan will not support an independent investigation. That says it all.
Recommend
0
