PUL-I-ALAM (PAN): Three girls were killed and their mother and a 7-year-old brother injured when a rocket hit their house during a clash between militants and foreign troops in central Logar province on Sunday, officials said.
The incident took place in the Pindai area of Bark-i-Barak district early in the morning, the district chief, Mohammad Rahim Ramin, told Pajhwok Afghan News. He blamed the Taliban for firing the rocket into the civilian house.
He said: “The house is situated in the direction where the Taliban fired rockets at foreign troops, who were on a foot patrol.”
Crime branch chief, Col. Mohammad Jan Abid, confirmed the incident, but said it was yet to be determined who fired the rocket.
But a district council member, Zakriya, claimed the rocket that hit the house of Mohammad Rahim was fired by international soldiers.
As a result, he added, Rahim’s three daughters were killed and his seven-year-old son and wife injured. A 50-member delegation of tribal elders later visited the base of foreign troops to complain about the casualties.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, denied there had been any clash between fighters and foreign troops in the district.
The International Security Assistance Force said in a statement the Taliban attacked a joint foot patrol of Afghan and foreign troops in the area, sparking a gun-battle.
The incident was being investigated to determine who fired the rocket that hit the civilian house, it said.
ma/mud
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