AIHRC Blames Afghan Army for Airstrike in Northern Takhar Province

Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on Friday blamed Afghan forces for carrying out the airstrike that hit a religious school in Baharak district of Takhar province, saying at least 12 children were killed and more than a dozen injured.

AIHRC’s initial findings indicate that airstrikes fired by government forces on October 21 killed as many as 12 children—boys and girls—and wounded another 18 children and the Imam of school, the commission said in a statement.

The airstrike was conducted while the Taliban militants were crossing the area, according to the statement.

Also, a mortar shell fired by the Taliban in a market in Sherintagab district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province on Thursday killed one woman and wounded 11 others, including four children, according to AIHRC’s statement.

Afghanistan’s Human Rights Commission condemned the attacks, calling for identifying the perpetrators and holding them accountable.

Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Twitter that the agency will issue its findings as its civilian protection team start following up the airstrike which struck a religious school in Baharak district.

“UNAMA civilian protection team following up on allegations of ANA airstrike yesterday against Taliban in #Takhar province killing 12 children, girls & boys, & injuring 18 other civilians,” said UNAMA in a tweet. “UN will issue findings when complete,” it continued.

The UN agency retweeted the statement published by human rights commission on Twitter.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense, however, issued a statement on Thursday, saying the airstrike targeted the Taliban militants who inflected heavy casualties to government forces in Baharak district of Takhar province a day earlier. As many as 12 Taliban insurgents were killed in the airstrike, it said.

Speaking to TKG, Takhar governor’s spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hijri said as many as 12 children were killed and 14 others wounded after the airstrike hit a madrasa in Hazara Qarluq area of Baharak province.

The conflict-ravaged country saw a rise in violence in recent weeks despite efforts for the intra-Afghan peace talks; the talks which are set to begin as soon as contested issues are agreed upon.