Mazar-e Sharif attack: Afghanistan mourns deadly Taliban assault

The Afghan government is battling a long-running Taliban insurgency

Afghanistan is holding a day of national mourning after the Taliban attacked an army base, killing or wounding more than 100 soldiers.

President Ashraf Ghani said the assault near the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif had been contrary to all human values and Islamic teachings.

Insurgents targeted those leaving Friday prayers at the base's mosque and others in a canteen, the army said.

Some of the survivors suggested the attackers had had inside help.

One of the injured soldiers said: "When an attacker enters the base, why was he not challenged? There is not just one barrier or security gate, there



are seven or eight."

The Taliban in a statement said it had carried out the attack, one of the deadliest on a military site in a country that has seen numerous insurgent attacks.

The fighters, dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles, made their way into the compound before opening fire, the army said.

At least 10 Taliban militants were also killed in the fighting and one attacker was detained.

The Afghan defence ministry did not release exact figures for Friday's attack, only saying more than 100 soldiers had died or been injured.

But other officials, speaking anonymously, said the death toll was at least 140.