MTN, Africa’s largest mobile operator has asked a court in the U.S to dismiss a case where the company is accused of breaking anti-terrorist legislation in its business in Afghanistan.
The lawsuit lodged by families of American military personnel and civilians who were killed in Afghanistan, claimed that MTN and other companies supported the Islamist militants by making payments to ensure their infrastructure was protected.
However, the South African telecoms firms claims the case should be withdrawn because the American court has no jurisdiction as the company does not operate in the U.S and the complaint does not allege any conduct that would have violates the Anti-terrorism Act.
MTN has expressed its sympathy to the families that lost loved ones as a result of the tragic incident in Afghanistan.
The company also says it has been praised by the World Bank for expanding telecommunications services to the “impoverished people of Afghanistan.”
