in

Afghan defence minister says Taliban hid in bombed hospital

Fires burn in part of the MSF hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz after it was hit by an air strike. (File: AFP)

Kabul – Afghanistan’s acting defence minister says the hospital that was bombed by 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 facility in the city of Kunduz as a “safe place”.

The hospital was bombed by a US AC-130 gunship in the early hours of October 3, killing at least 22 people and injuring many more. The main building was destroyed and the hospital has closed.

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.

Written by PH

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

UK to seize passports of teens at risk of extremism

Canadians appear poised to oust Conservative Harper