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‘Negligence Played A Role In Attack’, Says MoD

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Sunday said the task team assigned by central government to investigate the attack on the Afghan National Army 209 Shaheen Military Corps Headquarters in Balkh is still looking into personnel at the army base and has so far found negligence played a role in the deadly attack.

According to the MoD, preliminary investigations show that negligence on the part of officials at the military corps resulted in the deadly attack. However, the findings have not been finalized, said an official.

“Generals and officers from the military corps who were responsible for watching over the compound have been investigated and the investigations are not finished yet,” Mohammad Radmanesh, MoD deputy spokesman said.

A security source meanwhile told TOLOnews that insurgents were working within the military corps and were active in Baghlan, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces. He said it had been easy for them to enter the base.

The deadly incident is being investigated by a task-team that includes members from the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the National Security Council (NSC).

“If I have committed anything wrong, then the task team should prove my crime. But under military structure, everyone has specific duties. Some people may be responsible for what has happened, but I am not the guard,” said General Mohmand Katawazai, the former commander of the military corps.

Sources said when the insurgents attacked, some soldiers who were responsible for maintaining the security were not present at the gates and their posts and that the insurgents entered the base easily.

The Reserve Unit that is responsible for security in the military base has come under severe criticism.

“Despite a lesson being learnt after the attack on the military hospital in Kabul, the lack of an armed reserve unit inside the military corps and the enemy’s influence inside the corps provided the context for such a big attack,” Jawid Kohistani, a former military officer said.

Members of the Balkh provincial council meanwhile said an officer from inside the military corps was involved in the attack.

“The brother of one of the insurgents was a soldier inside the military corps, but we failed to find his name,” Mohammad Hashim Azimi, a member of the council said.

A security source said insurgents used military vehicles and uniforms in order to gain access to the base where they killed more than 250 soldiers just over two weeks ago.

‘Negligence Played A Role In Attack’, Says MoD

Although the task team has not finalized its probe into the deadly attack it said so far it appears some soldiers were negligent in carrying out their duties

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The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Sunday said the task team assigned by central government to investigate the attack on the Afghan National Army 209 Shaheen Military Corps Headquarters in Balkh is still looking into personnel at the army base and has so far found negligence played a role in the deadly attack.

According to the MoD, preliminary investigations show that negligence on the part of officials at the military corps resulted in the deadly attack. However, the findings have not been finalized, said an official.

“Generals and officers from the military corps who were responsible for watching over the compound have been investigated and the investigations are not finished yet,” Mohammad Radmanesh, MoD deputy spokesman said.

A security source meanwhile told TOLOnews that insurgents were working within the military corps and were active in Baghlan, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces. He said it had been easy for them to enter the base.

The deadly incident is being investigated by a task-team that includes members from the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the National Security Council (NSC).

“If I have committed anything wrong, then the task team should prove my crime. But under military structure, everyone has specific duties. Some people may be responsible for what has happened, but I am not the guard,” said General Mohmand Katawazai, the former commander of the military corps.

Sources said when the insurgents attacked, some soldiers who were responsible for maintaining the security were not present at the gates and their posts and that the insurgents entered the base easily.

The Reserve Unit that is responsible for security in the military base has come under severe criticism.

“Despite a lesson being learnt after the attack on the military hospital in Kabul, the lack of an armed reserve unit inside the military corps and the enemy’s influence inside the corps provided the context for such a big attack,” Jawid Kohistani, a former military officer said.

Members of the Balkh provincial council meanwhile said an officer from inside the military corps was involved in the attack.

“The brother of one of the insurgents was a soldier inside the military corps, but we failed to find his name,” Mohammad Hashim Azimi, a member of the council said.

A security source said insurgents used military vehicles and uniforms in order to gain access to the base where they killed more than 250 soldiers just over two weeks ago.

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