Foreign hand behind attacks on Kabul hospitals: Assoc

KABUL Private Hospitals Association on Saturday said foreign hands were involved in the attacks on private hospitals in Kabul, a claim rejected by the police headquarters.

The association’s head Aminullah Tokhi told a press conference that gun attacks were carried out on the Blossom and Pirzada private hospitals in Kabul nearly a year ago.

Only the attackers had suffered casualties, he said, adding the gunmen who attacked the Pirzada hospital overnight had been arrested by police. Window glasses of the hospital building were smashed in the assault, he recalled.

“Private sector hospitals have been able to provide treatment to patients of various diseases, something unacceptable to neighbouring countries,” he claimed, alleging  countries next-door were sending terrorists to attack private hospitals to create fear among people to avoid going to hospitals in Afghanistan and instead travel to neighbouring countries.

Without naming any country, Tokhi urged Afghan security forces to pay more attention to the security of private hospitals.

A member of the association, Mohammad Hashim Wahaj told the press conference that there had also been attacks on the Darman and Amarkhel private hospitals in Kabul last year. However, he did not elaborate.

He claimed Iran, Pakistan and India through negative propaganda and terrorist activities wanted to discourage Afghans from visiting their own hospitals and instead travel to these countries for treatment.

“Now 25 types of diseases are cured in private hospitals in the country. Afghans had to go to neighbouring countries for these diseases in the past,” he said.

Deputy Kabul police chief Col. Mohammad Daud told Pajhwok Afghan News that they had no information about any attack on private hospitals, except the Blossom hospital.

He rejected allegations that neighbouring countries were involved in attacks on private hospitals in Kabul. “Everything we do ourselves and then blame others for that. Those who attacked the Blossom hospital have been arrested and identified as vagabonds,” he argued.

Ma/vp

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