KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Officials in Pakhtia province have uncovered evidence of mass graves in a dry ditch in Sra Qila (Red Fort) area.
The gravesite is seven miles from the provincial capital Sharan.
Pajhwok news agency reported that government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the administration of President Hamid Karzai wants to investigate the graves, which are believed to contain the bodies of up to 1,000 communist-era soldiers. The proposed investigation, however, is currently being stymied by the presence of a feared regional commander who has run for a parliamentary seat.
Well-placed sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that the soldiers were apparently executed and their bodies dumped in the mass graves after they surrendered to mujahideen following the Soviet withdrawal from the country. Initial investigations have concluded that most of the dead men belonged to the 9th Brigade that was overwhelmed in 1989.
Paktika Gov. Gulab Mangal said that he sent information on the site to the Interior Ministry, which sent a team of forensic specialists, adding, "A clear picture will emerge after the investigations are completed."
On Sept. 15 the four-member delegation from Kabul completed an initial investigation of the site.
