Government withholding details on Taliban's attack on Afghan Army

Afghanistan: The local and international media were still waiting for the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Ministry of Defence to release details on the exact casualty toll of Friday afternoon's deadly attack on the Afghan National Army's 209 Shaheen Corps Headquarters in Balkh province even more than 24 hours after the incident.

Leaked numbers indicated the toll was between 135 and 180, while some even said the number of soldiers killed could be in the hundreds, TOLO News reports.

Shortly after the siege on the military base ended, government said eight soldiers were dead and then raised this figure to 11. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement that said at least 100 dead and wounded, without any specifics.

The lack of real details caused a barrage of posts on social media, especially among the journalist community in Afghanistan, with many taking to Twitter and Facebook and slamming government for its silence.

One Twitter user refused to mince his words and said: "CONFIRMED: Afghan Army lying about its losses in the latest Taliban attack. Real number of losses suffered by Afghan Army likely over 100."

Another journalist called it a massacre and stated simply government "has refused to confirm the death toll."