Afghans Pay Tribute to Soldiers Killed in Taliban Attack

Afghan security officials, political figures and families of the 21 Afghan soldiers who were killed in the Taliban attack on military outpost in eastern Kunar this week paid tribute to the soldiers at a somber ceremony in Kabul on Monday. The coffins were taken by helicopters to Kabul early on Monday. The attack was the deadliest single incident for the Afghan army in at least a year. Hundreds of Taliban insurgents with the support of the Pakistani Taliban attacked a remote army outpost in Ghazi Abad district of Kunar, said Kunar Police Chief, Abdul Habib Sayedkhili. At Monday's ceremony in Kabul, honor guard stood at attention behind the long line of coffins draped in the Afghan flag and topped with bouquets of flowers. Afghan Defence Minister Gen. Bismullah Khan Mohammadi pledged that Afghan security forces will stand up to threats.A father of the soldiers who lost his son in the attack said, "I sent my son to defend his country." "My son is Amir Hussian, 35 year-old and he has two children. One of his children is two year old and another is born now," he said. He added that another of his sons is also an Afghan army soldier. Thirteen Taliban insurgents have been killed in Afghan forces operation in Ghazi Abad district in the past 24 hours, said Afghan army officials on Monday. Clashes continue between Afghan forces and Taliban in the area. Six soldiers are still missing since yesterday, said the officials. The Afghan Chief of staff, Gen.Sher Mohammad Karimi on Monday paid a visit to Ghazi Abad district to check the outposts. He will provide a report about the attack to President Hamid Karzai. On Sunday, Karzai strongly condemned the killing of the soldiers and postponed his official trip to Sri Lanka. Ghazi Abad district shares a border with Pakistan and has been the site of insurgent activity targeting Afghan forces' outposts.