U.N.: Panicked Afghan guards fired on children

Doctors allegedly pressed to hide truth
Dr. Khalil Narmgui, director of the Baghlani-jadid hospital, said his staff treated 11 gunfire victims — five killed and six wounded.

In the nearby city of Pul-i-Khumri, Dr. Mohammad Yousuf Fayyez of the provincial hospital said his staff were not able to differentiate between gunfire and bomb wounds, while Dr. Habib Rahman Fazli said none of those treated at the Pul-i-Khumri Textile Hospital suffered from gunfire.

However, the U.N. official who asked not to be identified said that doctors told investigators that "we know how to differentiate between the bullet and blast wounds, we know how to tell the difference."

One doctor who helped treat patients said he was pressured to hide the truth. "One of the deputies of the ministry — I won't say which ministry — said please don't reveal the high number of casualties by the bullets," the doctor said. He asked not to be named out of fear of reprisals.

The head of Baghlan's elected provincial council said he found it hard to believe that so few people admitted to the hospital were gunfire victims.

"The people said it was raining bullets from the gunmen and security guards," said Sarajuddin, who goes by one name. "It is surprising a mine or suicide bomb could hurt 200 people," he said.

At the Baghlani-jadid hospital this week, six boys and one man lay in a room, recovering from wounds. Ahmad Fareed pulled up his left pant leg to show where surgeons removed a bullet lodged in his left knee. A doctor held up the silver-colored, inch-long bullet.

One family ripped apart by violence
Outside on the hospital steps sat Mohammad Gul, who buried his 5-year-old son, Nazir. His older son Nassir, 13, is recovering from shrapnel that ripped through his legs.

"Nassir doesn't know about his younger brother. He asked me just now, 'Where is my brother?' ... I told him, 'He's fine. He's at home,'" Gul, 55, said, his voice cracking. "Half of Nazir's head was blown off, and he was hit in the shoulder by a bullet."

Afghanistan's north has been relatively quiet compared with the violence-plagued south, but a handful of attacks, including at least five suicide bombs in neighboring Kunduz province, indicate some anti-government presence here. This was the first suicide bombing in Baghlan province, officials said.

Security officials and elders in Baghlan suspect that the Taliban or militant group Hezb-i-Islami — both of which still have supporters in the area — are behind the attack, although the Taliban denied involvement.

"We have no al-Qaida here. Just Hezb-i-Islami and Taliban," an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Baghlan police chief Gen. Abdul Rahman Syed Kheil said five suspects have been arrested, but he would not say if the suspects belong to a militant group.

"No faction has claimed responsibility yet," Syed Kheil said, though he believes the attack is "definitely" linked to violence in Kunduz. "There is a network, and they are organizing."

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