Ojhri Camp

Ojhri Camp (Urdu: اوجھڑی کیمپ‎; widely reported as 1988 Ojhri Camp disaster in media) occurred at a military storage center located in Rawalpindi Military District in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province of Pakistan on April 10, 1988. It was used as an ammunition depot for Afghan mujahideen fighting against Soviet forces from Afghanistan. The camp exploded on April 10, 1988, killing more than 1,300 people[1][2] in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as a result of rockets and other munitions expelled by the blast. One week after this major explosion Defense Department officials say that they believe that the explosion was the work of agents of the Afghan intelligence service (KHAD). It was the U.S. officials who did the explosion as they did not want Pakistan to use the aid they were receiving for their own purposes whereas they had given it to fight against the USSR.[3] There was speculation that the explosion was done by Pakistani agents to cover up a pilferage of the weapons stocks, including Stinger missiles.[4] There are also allegations that the explosion was carried out by the Soviet KGB in retaliation for Pakistan's aid to the mujahideen.

References

  1. ↑ Kamal Siddiqi (1998-04-14). "Ojhri disaster saw end of Junejo govt: Report". Archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  2. ↑ "Pakistan Refuses To Release 1988 Blast Reports To - Pakistani Military & Strategic Discussion Forum - Pakistani Defence Forum". Forum.pakistanidefence.com. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Officials Link Pakistan Blast to Kabul Regime". Pakistan; Afghanistan: NYTimes.com. 1988-04-17. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  4. ↑ "20 years on, Ojhri Camp truth remains locked up - Newspaper". Dawn.Com. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2015-02-27.

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