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Taliban strikes in heart of Kabul in deadly attack on elite agency Taliban strikes in heart of Kabul in deadly attack on elite agency
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL — Taliban militants attacked a government security agency with a suicide bomb and gunfire Tuesday, killing perhaps more than two dozen people and wounding more than 320 others in one of the most devastating attacks in Kabul in years, Afghan officials said. KABUL — Taliban militants attacked an elite government security agency with a suicide bomb and gunfire Tuesday, killing at least 28 people and wounding more than 320 others in one of the most devastating attacks in Kabul in years, Afghan officials said.
The target was an elite Afghan intelligence unit tasked with protecting senior government politicians — a direct strike against the Western-aided government a week after the Taliban announced its spring offensive. The target — an Afghan intelligence unit tasked with protecting senior officials — represented a direct strike against the Western-aided government a week after the Taliban announced its spring offensive.
The raid also was a message that the reach of fighters — and their ability to stage major coordinated attacks — appears undimmed despite rifts within the militant ranks and pressures from the rival Islamic State as it seeks to expand its influence in Afghanistan.
[Taliban vows “large-scale” attacks][Taliban vows “large-scale” attacks]
The attack ended several weeks of relative calm in the Afghan capital and is one of the biggest attacks to rock the Afghan capital in years. The attack ended several weeks of relative calm in the Afghan capital and marked one of the largest attacks to rock the Afghan capital in years.
It began when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of the agency, touching off a three-hour gun battle less than a mile away from the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defense in a densely-populated part of the city. It began when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of the agency with a powerful blast that cracked facades of nearby buildings.
The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility. Gunmen then laid siege to the compound — with some entering the grounds — touching off a three-hour gun battle less than a mile from the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defense in a densely populated part of the city.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani quickly condemned the attack, saying in a statement that it was a sign that insurgents cannot defeat Afghan forces in a “face-to-face battle.” The Taliban claimed responsibility even as number of dead and wounded were still being counted.
[The pull of the Taliban’s hard-line rule] [Gallery: The aftermath of the Kabul attack]
The Afghan Ministry of Health said seven people were killed and 327 wounded, mostly civilian passersby. But a police spokesman reached by phone put the death toll at nearly 30. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also just as quickly condemned the attack, saying in a statement that it was a sign that insurgents cannot defeat Afghan forces in a “face-to-face battle.”
The Afghan Ministry of Health said 327 people were wounded, mostly civilian passersby. A police spokesman put the death toll at nearly 30.
Most of the casualties were caused by the explosives in a small truck adjacent to the agency, spokesman Basir Mujahid said.Most of the casualties were caused by the explosives in a small truck adjacent to the agency, spokesman Basir Mujahid said.
“The death toll is between 28 and 30,” he said by phone.“The death toll is between 28 and 30,” he said by phone.
After the blast, assailants apparently made their way inside the agency compound as the gun battle raged. The impact of the explosion shattered windows and cracked the facades of nearby shops and businesses, according to witnesses.
The Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive April 12. Fighting has since flared around the northern city of Kunduz, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city, but Kabul had remained relatively quiet.The Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive April 12. Fighting has since flared around the northern city of Kunduz, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city, but Kabul had remained relatively quiet.
[The pull of the Taliban’s hard-line rule]
Kunduz fell briefly to the Taliban last September. That marked the biggest setback to the government of Ashraf Ghani since NATO-led forces ended their combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.Kunduz fell briefly to the Taliban last September. That marked the biggest setback to the government of Ashraf Ghani since NATO-led forces ended their combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.
Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report. The coming months are seen as a critical test of the Taliban strength and unity.
Last week’s statement vowed to bring “large-scale” attacks as the weather warms. Such pronouncements have been made nearly every year since Taliban rule was toppled by U.S.-led forces in 2001.
But the current backdrop introduces new challenges for the Taliban as well as potential openings to expand recent gains.
The group has been wracked by internal splits following the public acknowledgment last year of the death of its longtime leader, Mohammad Omar. Some factions favored exploring peace efforts with the Afghan government. Others, however, called for stepped up offensives to regain territory and counter moves by the Islamic State to find new footholds in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-led coalition withdrew all but 13,500 troops last year, leaving the Afghan military at the forefront in the fight against the militants. The Taliban, in turn, has made steady gains in southern, eastern and northern Afghanistan.
Tuesday’s attack in Kabul was a stinging blow to Afghan forces amid efforts to enhance security in the capital following a string of high-profile Taliban incursions. In November 2014, militants waged back-to-back suicide blasts, including one in a Kabul district that houses many embassies and foreign compounds.
Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
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