DFA Checks Reports of Pinoy Killed in Taliban Attack

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to confirm reports that a Filipino was among those killed by Taliban suicide bombers in Afghanistan.

In a text message to abs-cbnNEWS.com, DFA Spokesman Ed Malaya said the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs is “currently verifying, thru the RP Embassy in Islamabad the information that a Filipino was among the 5 individuals killed in an attack by Taliban suicide bombers on the office of a US contracting company”.

Taliban fighters. Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moslih/

Reuters on Friday reported that Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen stormed a US contracting company office, the Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) in northern Afghanistan, in Kunduz province.

The 5 fatalities include 2 Afghans, a British citizen, a German national and a Filipino. The report added that the five-hour gunbattle also left 24 others wounded.

Malaya said Filipino workers are not allowed to work in Afghanistan following a labor deployment ban to the said country.

“The DFA reiterates that the Philippines has a labor deployment ban to Afghanistan and advises the public against seeking employment there due to the unstable and volatile situation in the said country,” he said.

Provincial Governor Mohammad Omar told Reuters that security forces managed to rescue around 8 American workers inside the compound.

According to its website (http://www.dai.com), the company is one of USAID’s principal service providers and specializes in post-conflict reconstruction, local government, agribusiness and natural resource management.

At least one of the bombers blew himself up in front of the gate to allow other fighters to push inside the compound.

Other foreign workers fled to the roof of the five-story building for safety as the battle continued in floors below.

International troops helped Afghan security forces ferry wounded civilians to a nearby military base for emergency care, a coalition military spokeswoman said in a statement.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at least 6 suicide bombers and fighters were involved in the attack in a province mainly patrolled by German forces under NATO-command.

Insurgents have managed to infiltrate remote villages and districts in the province as they seek to push their reach and influence beyond traditional strongholds in the south ahead of a looming “surge” offensive by US-led coalition forces.

The latest attack comes as newly-appointed US and NATO forces commander General David Petraeus arrived in the country to oversee the fight against the Taliban and try to reverse the insurgency’s momentum.

Earlier, NATO said a western soldier died in a separate insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan.

Source: ABS CBN News