Angry family members of soldiers killed in Friday’s Taliban attack on the Afghan National Army 209 Shaheen Military Corps Headquarters in Balkh province slammed government for not having covered the bodies in shrouds following the incident.

They said they were handed the bodies, in coffins, by the army but that the bodies had not been covered. In addition, many families had to transfer the bodies to their home province themselves.

A family member of Mohammad Ewaz, a fallen soldier from Baghlan province, said his deceased relative had joined the Afghan Special Forces seven years ago and fought in numerous provinces during this time.

Ewaz’s relatives said they waited for hours outside the corps headquarters in order to get Ewaz’s body and when they received the coffin, he was not even covered in a shroud.  

“He served for seven years in army, but had no shroud when we received his body. This is what comes from serving in the army. He was put in the coffin, with his military uniform on, and they had not even closed his eyes,” said Juma Khan, a relative of Ewaz.

“A Military Corps ambulance handed his body over to us outside the military compound. He was in a coffin with no shroud on,” said another relative of Ewaz, Taza Mir.

Mohammad Ewaz is survived by two young sons and his family lives in a rented house.

Ewaz’s brother, Nazir, said he is extremely worried about the future of his nephews.

“They have no one to take care of them. His family lives in a rented house. He has left behind two children,” he said.