11 ANA soldiers injured in suicide attack
18 October, 2012
KABUL: As many as 11 Afghan National Army (ANA) were injured in a suicide attack on a Afghan and coalition joint military base in Zurmat district of Paktiya province on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said.
A defence ministry press release, available with the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), stated a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into an ANA unit in Zurmat district. Eleven ANA soldiers were wounded in the attack, it said, adding three of them were in critical condition.
The press release rejected reports about injuries to more than 11 ANA personnel in the suicide hit.
Meanwhile, the Paktiya governor's spokesman Roohullah Samon told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that 10 ANA soldiers were injured in the attack.
However, the Zurmat health clinic in-charge Dr Haji Muhammad said eight injured civilians of the incident had been brought to the facility. He added a girl had died after hearing the deafening sound of the blast.
When contacted, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF press office in Kabul said: "According to current operational reporting, the attack resulted in several ANSF and some ISAF wounded, but no fatalities."
"ISAF and Afghan officials are still gathering information," the press office said, adding "According to the initial battle damage assessment, a few ANA-buildings were damaged. We have however confirmed that no helicopters were damagedin the attack."
It's pertinent to mention here that earlier the Paktiya Deputy Governor Abdul Rahman Mangal told media that 45 ANA soldiers got injuries in the attack.
Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attack was conducted by a 28-year fighter Salahuddin.
"Thirteen foreign and 19 Afghan soldiers were killed while two foreign and 45 Afghan troops were injured in the attack. Two helicopters and several vehicles were destroyed while the base also suffered heavy damage," he claimed.
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