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Afghan capital Kabul hit by Taliban attack
Editor’s note: It looks from here as if the Taliban are launching a surge of their own. The news of a coordinated attack by suicide bombers and gunmen armed with rocket propelled grenades against government buildings and other targets in downtown Kabul morning was reported by the BBC. Allied forces “firm grip” on Kabul making it safe for dinner and a movie may be overstated. Bob Higgins
Kabul was rocked by blasts as the sound of gunfire filled the streets
Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers have attacked buildings in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking gun battles.
Fighting erupted near the Serena Hotel and the presidential palace, although Afghan President Hamid Karzai says security has now been restored. The Taliban said 20 of its fighters had taken part in the attack on Kabul.
Two civilians and three security personnel have been killed plus 71 others wounded, officials say. Seven attackers had also been killed, Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar said.
The city is now calm but there is concern that some of the attackers may still be at large.
It is the latest in a series of increasingly brazen attacks on Kabul.
A statement on a Taliban website said the raid had targeted government buildings and the hotel.
The head of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, praised the work of Afghan security forces in quelling Monday’s attack.
“Today’s attack by the Taliban in Kabul is yet another example of their brutality and contempt for the Afghan people,” he said in a statement issued by the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
“Afghan National Security Forces effectively dealt with the situation and should be commended. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the innocent victims of this cowardly attack.”
The Taliban fighters were armed with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, the Isaf statement said.
Read more and watch the video at BBC News
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=10998
Posted by Bob Higgins on Jan 18 2010, Filed under AfPak. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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“if you are enlightened with the spirit of believe in Allah than one of you will vanquish thousands of them…..”(from the holy Quran).Taliban were only twenty and crusaders were twenty thousand! result- “haven of crusaders” green zone of kabul is in the reach of the army of Allah- the taliban!Uncle Sam- Dooms day of yours is imminent- Oracle has prophasied!!
I don’t know about old Musafir’s point of view, but it seems odd that with all of our strength we cannot stop 20 suicide bombers from wrecking havoc on the capital. This is a mess.
From our point of view they are terrorists. From their point of view they are martyrs attempting to wrest their country from the hands of the Infidels. That parallel journey will never conjoin.
Maybe its time to negotiate and let the Afghanis, including the Taliban fighers, decide what type of government they want installed in Kabul?