Clearing up in the aftermath of attack on Governor’s compound.
Islamic Emirate (Afghan Taliban) have denied an attack on Khost province which left at least 17 people dead and 50 wounded.
A suicide bomber is thought to have hit near Governor’s house where several hundred demonstrators had gathered to protest in recent days demanding Governor Abduljabar Naeemi’s removal amid allegations of corruption. One of those injured was alleged to be Humayoun Humayoun, an Afghan MP and head of the Defense Committee of Parliament.
Asadullah Ludin from Azadi Radio tweeted, “breaking, explosion on a part of demonstration in Khost province, injured and even killed a gang of disabled who tried to join the demonstration” though this could not be independently verified.
The Taliban via spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahidin stated,
“Mujahidin of Islamic Emirate have no connection with the blast today in Khost province”
They also tweeted that,
“Call & Guidance Commission :: 271 Kabul regime workers quit & joined Islamic Emirate in month of March 2015”
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the terrorist attack on protesters in Khost calling it “an unforgivable crime against innocent civilians.”
Khaama Press reported, that “the The NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission strongly condemned the deadly suicide attack in eastern Khost province of Afghanistan” stating,
“indiscriminate attacks are a common tactic used by Anti-Government Elements. This willful disregard for human life is the leading cause of civilian casualties in Afghanistan — nearly 72% , according to U.N. research”
“we maintain our commitment to the people of Afghanistan who value progress and growth and reject violence, as we work to our shared goal of a prosperous Afghanistan”
Recent UNAMA and Human Rights Watch reports from Afghanistan paint a grim picture of US supporting “notorious human rights abusers”, torture in custody and “out of control” warlords and militia. The Guardian reports that, “opiate production has climbed steadily over recent years to reach record-high levels last year” whilst Academi (former Blackwater) “reaped over half a billion dollars from the futile Defense Department push to eradicate Afghan narcotics”. The Taliban continue to highlight human rights abuses including the alleged demolition of around 1,500 homes in Sangin by enemy forces claiming local elders tried to highlight their concerns to BBC in Kandahar but it appears BBC are being prevented from reporting this issue. With regard to an extension period for withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban recently stated,
“the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns America’s announcement of the prolongation of occupation and vows to continue its blessed salvatory Jihad against all forms of occupation. America which failed to attain its open and hidden objectives during the course of 13 years of occupation with over a hundred thousand troops and billions of dollars of expenditure will never be able to achieve them with a few thousand troops.”
Links
“Afghanistan:Remarks of spokesman of Islamic Emirate regarding the destruction of around 1,500 homes by enemy in Sangin”
“Afghanistan: Statement of Islamic Emirate concerning US announcement of maintaining troops”
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 