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Grief and Anger in Afghanistan Over Killing of 21 Soldiers Grief and Anger in Afghanistan Over Killing of 21 Soldiers
(about 3 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A public outpouring of grief mixed with patriotism whipped through Afghanistan on Monday, a day after 21 Afghan soldiers were shot to death by Taliban insurgents in the eastern province of Kunar.KABUL, Afghanistan — A public outpouring of grief mixed with patriotism whipped through Afghanistan on Monday, a day after 21 Afghan soldiers were shot to death by Taliban insurgents in the eastern province of Kunar.
The bodies of the soldiers were laid in state at the military hospital here, draped in the Afghan flag. “The uniform your brothers and sons wore were actually their burial shrouds,” Defense Minister Bismullah Khan Mohammadi told family members who gathered there Monday. “We will follow their path and defend their blood.” The bodies of the soldiers were laid in repose at the military hospital here, draped in the Afghan flag. “The uniforms your brothers and sons wore were actually their burial shrouds,” Defense Minister Bismullah Khan Mohammadi told family members who gathered there Monday. “We will follow their path and defend their blood.”
In the meantime, people began raising money for the families to supplement the meager 100,000 afghanis — about $1,800 — in death benefits that their families would receive from the government. Amrullah Saleh, a former intelligence chief, announced that he had raised $10,000 in small contributions that he would match personally. People began raising money for the families to supplement the meager 100,000 afghanis — about $1,800 — in death benefits that they would receive from the government. Amrullah Saleh, a former intelligence chief, announced that he had raised $10,000 in small contributions that he would match personally.
“I am not saddened at all, he is a martyr and a martyr never dies,” said Mumtaz, 28, whose brother was one of the soldiers killed. He asked that the Defense Ministry help the victims’ families. “Every one of them has left a child, a wife, a father and a mother behind,” said Mumtaz, who uses one name. “I am not saddened at all; he is a martyr, and a martyr never dies,” said Mumtaz, 28, whose brother was one of the soldiers killed. He asked that the Defense Ministry help the victims’ families. “Every one of them has left a child, a wife, a father and a mother behind,” said Mumtaz, who uses one name.
Social media networks were flooded Monday with comments on the killings, many accusing President Hamid Karzai of caring more about Taliban prisoners than his own soldiers. A movement got underway on Facebook encouraging people to change their profile pictures to those of soldiers or images of Afghan flags.Social media networks were flooded Monday with comments on the killings, many accusing President Hamid Karzai of caring more about Taliban prisoners than his own soldiers. A movement got underway on Facebook encouraging people to change their profile pictures to those of soldiers or images of Afghan flags.
Mr. Karzai’s government recently ordered the release of 65 alleged insurgents from Bagram Prison over the strenuous complaints of the American military, who said many of them would likely return to battle. Mr. Karzai’s government recently ordered the release of 65 men from Bagram Prison over the strenuous complaints of the American military, who said many of them would most likely return to battle.
People seemed particularly outraged by the manner of the soldiers’ deaths. All were shot in their sleep after Taliban insurgents overran their base in the remote Ghaziabad district of Kunar on Sunday morning; the authorities said the guards on duty were apparently Taliban sympathizers who let them enter the base. It was the worst loss of life for the Afghan National Army since 2010.People seemed particularly outraged by the manner of the soldiers’ deaths. All were shot in their sleep after Taliban insurgents overran their base in the remote Ghaziabad district of Kunar on Sunday morning; the authorities said the guards on duty were apparently Taliban sympathizers who let them enter the base. It was the worst loss of life for the Afghan National Army since 2010.
“My cousin was killed in the attack yesterday,” Hajji Alif Khan, from Khost Province, said at the ceremony at the military hospital. “I want to see the bloodshed ended in this country in my lifetime. It is enough, we lost thousands of people. Let’s stop this war,” he said. “My cousin was killed in the attack yesterday,” Hajji Alif Khan, from Khost Province, said at the ceremony at the military hospital. “I want to see the bloodshed ended in this country in my lifetime. It is enough; we lost thousands of people. Let’s stop this war.”
But in the meantime, he said, “They should check every soldier’s background.” But in the meantime, he said, “they should check every soldier’s background.”