Danish soldiers injured in Helmand blast

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Three Danish soldiers were hospitalised on Thursday with injuries sustained in a suicide attack in southern Helmand province, officials said.

Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the bomber attacked the foreign troops in the Yakhchal area of Greshk district in the afternoon.

He said the attacker detonated his explosives-laden car when an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy was passing through the area.

The troops were in a car when an improvised explosive device placed in another vehicle went off, injuring three soldiers, the Danish army said in a statement.

It added the injured were airlifted by a helicopter to a nearby field hospital from the site. The soldiers have been able to call their relatives.

Planning to leave 300 soldiers to train Afghan forces beyond 2014, Denmark’s military force is gradually pulling out of combat operations.

So far more than 40 Danish soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan mission began more than a decade ago.

ma/mud