KABUL - A number of soldiers from Afghan National Army’s 209 Shaheen Corps Headquarters in Balkh province, who survived the deadly attack on Friday but are being treated at a public hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif city, said attackers must have had inside help to gain access to the heavily fortified military base.
They said the attackers had to pass through a number of checkpoints in order to get to the center of the base where the mosque was located.
Hussain, one survivor who is being treated at the Mazar-e-Sharif hospital, said attackers entered the base in army vehicles and had weapons on them.
They opened fire on officers and soldiers, he said.
“Those who enter the Corps, they are checked at seven or eight places; but the question is how did the insurgents get through these seven or eight checkpoints. The Corps officials should respond this,” he told TOLOnews.
He added: “(One) attacker was inside a vehicle with tinted windows and he was shooting at soldiers with a PK gun. I thank the Army’s Special Forces who gunned down the attackers.”
Lotfullah, another wounded soldier, claimed that circles from within the army base helped the attackers enter the compound.
“We are soldiers from the Corps but we cannot enter the base easily, but it is unfortunate that suicide bombers managed to enter the base easily. My foot was wounded in this incident,” he told TOLOnews.
Meanwhile health officials said most of the wounded were being treated at the base and that only eight patients were taken to the Mazar-e-Sharif hospital.
“Eight of the wounded were taken to a public hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif. Six of them are in good condition but two others are in critical condition,” Balkh Public Health Director Mirwais Rabee said.
Sources said more than 135 soldiers were killed in the attack and at least 60 wounded. However, government has still not released official figures.
Just hours after Friday’s incident, the Taliban claimed responsibility.  (Tolonews)