Red Cross says first aid courses for Taliban are part of its humanitarian mandate

Red Cross defends first aid courses for Taliban

GENEVA — The international Red Cross has defended its first aid training for Taliban fighters in Afghanistan after media reports sparked criticism from Afghan officials.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it trained “over 70 members of the armed opposition” in first aid last month.

The group says it also provided first aid kits to fighters and civilians living in conflict areas.

Britain’s Guardian newspaper on Tuesday quoted an unnamed official in Kandahar’s local government saying the Taliban did “not deserve to be treated like humans.”

A Red Cross spokesman, Marcal Izard, said Wednesday the training is part of the neutral group’s humanitarian mandate under the Geneva Conventions that require all wounded on the battlefield to be treated equally.