KABUL - The Afghan government on Saturday declared Sunday (April 23) a national day of mourning following a deadliest attack on the military in northern Balkh province.
The Friday’s attack involving gunmen and suicide bombers left atleast 140 troops with the Shaheen Military Corps dead and several others wounded.
The troops were offering Friday prayers when they were attacked in the mosque in their base.
A statement from the President’s media office said Sunday had been declared a national day of mourning in compliance with directives from President Ashraf Ghani.
The Afghanistan flag would fly half-mast on government offices and foreign missions to pay respect to the martyred soldiers.
A special memorial service would be held at the mosque in the Presidential Palace to pray for the departed souls and early recovery of those wounded in the terrorist attack, the statement quoted the president as saying.
The announcement from the government comes moments later the Afghanistan Ulema Council asked the government to declare a national day of mourning and build a memorial commemorating the martyred soldiers of the attack on their base in Balkh province.
The death toll from the Friday’s brazen Taliban attack on the 209 Shaheen Military Corps dramatically soared to at least 100.
A statement from the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC) quoting the Ulema Council as saying: “We regret again witnessing the real face of the enemies of Islam and Afghanistan.”
The cleric body called the attack as a huge crime because the troops were offering Friday’s prayer when they were attacked in the mosque on their base.
The council condemned the attack as un-Islamic and against humanity. “This act of the insurgents was against Islamic teachings and humanitarian norms because attacking Muslims in mosque while they are busy performing prayers has no Islamic justification.”
The council requested the government to declare a ‘public mourning day’ and construct a memorial for keeping alive the memory of the martyred individuals. (Pajhwok)