Candlelight vigil held for slain soldiers in Balkh

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A large number of people took part a candlelight vigil organised by civil society activists in northern Balkh province to pay homage to the slain Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers killed in Ghaziabad district of eastern Nangarhar province. 

Twenty-one ANA service members were killed last Sunday when a large number of heavily armed militants stormed their outpost near the Pakistani border, sparking gatherings in a number of provinces to mourn the deaths.

Mohammad Jan Aria, a civil society activist who arranged the programme, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had gathered to pay rich tribute to the fallen soldiers and express solidarity with the bereaved families.

He demanded a thoroughgoing investigation into the well-organised attack in order to identify its instigators.

Another activist Babar Jurat said Afghan security forces were the country’s defenders and the assault should be investigated and those involved punished in accordance with the law of the land.

A number of Afghan military officers from the 209th Shaheen Military Corps attended the ceremony.

Brig. Gen. Hamid Farooqi, the corps commander, said after the Kunar incident, the masses throughout the country extended their unflinching support to the Afghan forces.

He said ANA soldiers were the sons of Afghans and were ready to render any sacrifice for the protection of motherland.

rm/ma

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