A number of religious scholars and members of Balkh provincial council on Sunday said that the responsible officials must answer to the nation over Friday’s deadly attack by the Taliban on 209 Shaheen Army Corps in Balkh.

Clerics stressed that terrorist attacks have no link with Islamic teachings and by committing such atrocities, terrorists want to create fear among the people and tarnish the image of Islam.

Talking on the Taliban attack on the 209 Shaheen Army Corps, clerics said that Islam has strongly condemned terrorism and militancy in all its forms and manifestations.

“Attacks on mosques and holy places have no religious justification, the insurgents by targeting such places tarnish the image of Islam in the world's mindset,” said religious scholar Mawlawi Matiullah.

“The terrorists have conveyed a negative image of Islam in the world. But Islam is not like this, Islam has not allowed the killings,” said Mahmoud Danishjo, head of Balkh Hajj department.

Meanwhile, head of Balkh provincial council has said that claims of infiltration of Taliban in army camp raises serious questions, suggesting that the secret aspects of the infiltration must be probed.

“We ask the officials of 209 Shaheen Army Corps how the insurgents managed to infiltrate the base despite tough security measures, did they have support from inside or not, these questions must be answered,” said member of Balkh provincial council Shujauddin Shuja.

Friday’s attack on the army camp killed an estimated 135 soldiers and left more than 80 others wounded.