20 ANA soldiers killed in Kunar attack

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 20 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed early Sunday morning when militants stormed their check-post in eastern Kunar province, officials said.

A group of Afghan and foreign insurgents mounted the attack on ANA’s Sher Ghashi check-post in Tunk area. Governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala said 20 soldiers were killed and eight others kidnapped.

He added one of the missing soldiers had links with the Taliban. An investigation has been launched into the assault, the governor said, adding a cleanup operation was ongoing.

Ministry of Defence spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi confirmed the assault, saying two soldiers were injured in a fierce clash that lasted until 8:00am. Many Afghan and foreign rebels were killed in the battle and their bodies were still lying at the site.

Azimi said an ANA battalion was targeted by a suicide attacker on its way to the site. But nobody was hurt in the attack, he explained.

Abdul Ghani Musamim, the Kunar governor’s spokesman, said the predawn incident took place in Ghaziabad district at around 3:00 am.

Meanwhile, the insurgent group claimed responsibility for the brazen attack, saying a large number of soldiers had been killed and eight others kidnapped.

mm/mud