US troops raid Afghan Swedish charity hospital
KABUL: A Swedish charity accused American troops Monday of storming through a hospital in central Afghanistan, breaking down doors and tying up staff in a search for militants. The US military said it was investigating.
The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division forced its way into the charity’s hospital without permission to look for insurgents in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul.
“This is a clear violation of internationally recognized rules and principles,� said Anders Fange, the charity’s country director. He said it also went against an agreement between NATO forces and charities working in the area.
The US troops came to the hospital looking for Taleban insurgents late at night last Wednesday. Fange said they kicked in doors, tied up four hospital guards and two people visiting hospitalized relatives, and forced patients out of beds during their search.
They also barged into women’s wards, he said, adding that strangers entering rooms where women are in beds is a serious insult to the local Pashtun culture and word of it could turn the community against international troops.
When they left two hours later, the soldiers ordered hospital staff to inform coalition forces if any wounded insurgents were admitted, and the military would decide if they could be treated, he said.
The staff refused. Fange said informing on patients would put the staff at risk and make the hospital a target and he demanded guarantees the military would not enter hospitals without permission in future.
“If the international military forces are not respecting the sanctity of health facilities, then there is no reason for the Taleban to do it either,� he said. “Then these clinics and hospitals would become military targets.�
US military spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker confirmed that the hospital was searched last week but had no other details. She said the military was looking into the incident.
“We are investigating and we take allegations like this seriously,� she said. “Complaints like this are rare.�
Afghanistan | News | | arabnews.com