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Three killed, including 15-year-old, in Afghan security raid of health clinic Three killed, including 15-year-old, in Afghan security raid on health clinic
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL — Afghan security forces raided a charitable health clinic on Wednesday night in Wardak province, killing two patients and a caretaker in another incident billed as a potential war crime here, according to health and human rights officials. KABUL — Afghan security forces raided a charitable health clinic in Wardak province Wednesday night, killing two patients and a caretaker in another incident billed as a potential war crime here, according to health and human rights officials.
In a statement, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said the Afghan National Army conducted the raid. Bjorn Lindh, a spokesman for the organization, accused the Afghan army of carrying out three extrajudicial killings. The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, which operates the clinic, said in a statement that the Afghan National Army had conducted the raid, calling the attack “a gross violation of humanitarian principles and the Geneva Convention.”
Lindh said Afghan troops arrived near the 10-bed clinic in a helicopter about 11 p.m. Initially, Lindh said, they went to the home of a local ambulance driver and detained him. The ambulance driver then escorted the soldiers to the health clinic. Bjorn Lindh, a spokesman for the organization, accused the Afghan army of carrying out three extrajudicial killings.
Lindh said Afghan troops arrived near the 10-bed clinic in a helicopter about 11 p.m. Initially, he said, they went to the home of a local ambulance driver and detained him. The ambulance driver then escorted the soldiers to the health clinic.
[U.N.: 2015 civilian injuries in Afghan war worst since 2009][U.N.: 2015 civilian injuries in Afghan war worst since 2009]
The Afghan troops then stormed into the clinic and began arresting and beating staff members, Lindh said. They then “found two patients who were injured in some way,” Lindh said. The Afghan troops stormed into the clinic and began arresting and beating staff members, Lindh said, adding that they then “found two patients who were injured in some way.”
“They took these people out of the clinic to nearby bazaar and killed them,” Lindh said. A 15-year-old boy who had been watching over the two men was also killed, Lindh said. “They took these people out of the clinic to a nearby bazaar and killed them,” Lindh said. A 15-year-old boy who had been watching over the two men was also killed, he said.
The spokesman for the Defense Ministry did not return several calls for comment. The Defense Ministry’s spokesman did not return several calls for comment.
Some local officials in Wardak allege U.S. forces were also involved in the raid, perhaps flying the helicopters that transported Afghan troops to the area. Some local officials in Wardak, south of Kabul, alleged that U.S. forces were also involved in the raid, perhaps flying the helicopters that transported Afghan troops to the area.
Col. Michael T. Lawhorn, spokesman for the U.S-led coalition, said officials are investigating those claims. Col. Michael T. Lawhorn, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said officials are investigating those claims.
“We are aware of those reports, and we are looking into them,” Lawhorn said.“We are aware of those reports, and we are looking into them,” Lawhorn said.
The apparent raid comes less than six months after the U.S. Special Forces mistakenly strafed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 42 patients, medical staffers and caretakers. President Obama apologized for the airstrike, but Doctors Without Borders is pressing for war crimes charges to be filed. The apparent raid comes less than six months after U.S. Special Forces mistakenly strafed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 42 patients, medical staffers and caretakers. President Obama apologized for the airstrike, but Doctors Without Borders is pressing for war crimes charges to be filed.
Gen. John Campbell, the outgoing commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, blamed “human error” for the airstrike. Campbell said U.S. Special Forces who had been operating in that area had not been briefed that the Doctors Without Borders compound was a hospital. Gen. John Campbell, the outgoing commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, blamed “human error” for the Kunduz airstrike. Campbell said U.S. Special Forces who had been operating in that area had not been briefed that the Doctors Without Borders compound was a hospital.
Afghan security forces, however, have been known to routinely enter medical facilities in pursuit of militants, even though hospitals are considered neutral spaces under international law. A few months before the hospital in Kunduz was bombed, Doctors Without Borders had complained that Afghan troops had illegally entered the facility.Afghan security forces, however, have been known to routinely enter medical facilities in pursuit of militants, even though hospitals are considered neutral spaces under international law. A few months before the hospital in Kunduz was bombed, Doctors Without Borders had complained that Afghan troops had illegally entered the facility.
[What exactly happened in Kunduz is still unclear][What exactly happened in Kunduz is still unclear]
In a statement, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said Wednesday’s “attack constitutes a gross violation of humanitarian principles and the Geneva Convention.” Jorgen Holmstrom, the country director for the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, said all the patients in the group’s clinics had the right to be protected.
“Medical facilities and medical staff are to provide treatment to anyone in need and patients are to be granted safety according to humanitarian law,” said Jorgen Holmstrom, the country director for the organization. “The patients who are being treated at our clinics have the right to be protected.” “Medical facilities and medical staff are to provide treatment to anyone in need, and patients are to be granted safety according to humanitarian law,” he said.
Lindh noted the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is the only medical provider in remote Wardak province, where fierce battles between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants are common. Lindh noted that the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is the only medical provider in Wardak province, where fierce battles between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants are common.
Abdul Wali Noorzai, a spokesman for the provincial police force, said the raid began when Afghan special forces troops used ropes to descend into the village from a helicopter. Abdul Wali Noorzai, a spokesman for the provincial police force, said the raid began when Afghan special forces used ropes to descend into the village from a helicopter.
“The operation was conducted at night, and Afghans do not have technology to do it by air descending troops onto the ground,” he said. “I think Americans were present with them.” “The operation was conducted at night, and Afghans do not have the technology to do it by air, lowering troops onto the ground,” he said. “I think Americans were present with them.”
U.S. military officials say the Afghan army is now using its own helicopters to conduct night operations without the presence of coalition advisers. U.S. military officials say the Afghan army sometimes uses its own helicopters now to conduct night operations without the presence of coalition advisers.
Hameeda Akbari, a member of parliament from the area, said the hospital was well-known for treating Taliban militants. She called the raid “justifiable.”Hameeda Akbari, a member of parliament from the area, said the hospital was well-known for treating Taliban militants. She called the raid “justifiable.”
“That hospital treats the opposition,” Akbari said.“That hospital treats the opposition,” Akbari said.
But Lindh stressed that the staff at the health clinic “is not part of this conflict.”But Lindh stressed that the staff at the health clinic “is not part of this conflict.”
“Anyone who comes to our clinics, we don’t ask questions and they should feel protected,” Lindh said. “But they were taken out, and they were killed.” “Anyone who comes to our clinics, we don’t ask questions, and they should feel protected,” Lindh said. “But they were taken out, and they were killed.”
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