U.S. base in Afghanistan attacked after distributing 'offensive' dog flier
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The Taliban has said a suicide bomber blew himself up in response to U.S. leaflets that insulted Muslim Afghanis with a picture of a dog and a Quranic verse.
America’s military has apologized for superimposing the Taliban’s banner, with an Arabic quote from the holy book, on a picture of a white dog, considered unclean in many Muslim countries.
The leaflets dropped Monday night exhorted residents in the Parwan province, which holds the U.S.’s Bagram Airfield, to cooperate with American soldiers against “terrorist dogs.”
But attempts to win hearts and minds instead caused outrage after linking the animal to the Quran by way of the terrorist group.
Regional leaders said that they were preparing for demonstrations in response to it before an unidentified motorcyclist drove up to the base and detonated explosives.
The Taliban claimed the attack, which wounded six, and said it was in response to the dog leaflet, the Guardian reported.
It was not immediately clear if any coalition soldiers or contractors were among the victims from the blast, which came after an apology for the offensive flier.
“The design of the leaflets mistakenly contained an image highly offensive to both Muslims and the religion of Islam,” Major General James Linder said in a statement Wednesday.
“I sincerely apologize. We have the deepest respect for Islam and our Muslim partners worldwide.”
He said that a review would determine who was responsible for the flier making it out into a country where U.S. forces in the country for more than 16 years continue to battle the Taliban.
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