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| Taliban Stage Attacks on Day After Afghanistan and U.S. Sign Security Deal | Taliban Stage Attacks on Day After Afghanistan and U.S. Sign Security Deal |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — Two suicide attacks targeting military transport vehicles here on Wednesday killed seven Afghan soldiers and wounded nearly 20 others, officials said, one of the deadlier strikes on security forces in the capital since the summer fighting season began. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Two suicide attacks targeting military transport vehicles here on Wednesday killed seven Afghan soldiers and wounded nearly 20 others, officials said, one of the deadlier strikes on security forces in the capital since the summer fighting season began. |
| The attacks came a day after the government signed a crucial security deal with the United States that paves the way for the long-term presence of American troops, a pact the Taliban vehemently opposed. The group quickly issued a statement claiming responsibility for the assaults. | The attacks came a day after the government signed a crucial security deal with the United States that paves the way for the long-term presence of American troops, a pact the Taliban vehemently opposed. The group quickly issued a statement claiming responsibility for the assaults. |
| “By signing the agreement, the status of the Kabul administration, in particular the status of soldiers and police, is clear,” the Taliban said in a statement. “They are working for the interests of others, and their killing is important.” | “By signing the agreement, the status of the Kabul administration, in particular the status of soldiers and police, is clear,” the Taliban said in a statement. “They are working for the interests of others, and their killing is important.” |
| The first attacker, wearing an explosive vest, boarded a full bus in the Karte Char neighborhood of Kabul. The blast killed seven soldiers and wounded 15 people, including civilians, said Hashmatullah Stanikzai, the spokesman for the police in Kabul. | The first attacker, wearing an explosive vest, boarded a full bus in the Karte Char neighborhood of Kabul. The blast killed seven soldiers and wounded 15 people, including civilians, said Hashmatullah Stanikzai, the spokesman for the police in Kabul. |
| The second attack also targeted a bus, this one in the Deh Sabz area, injuring four soldiers, Mr. Stanikzai said. | The second attack also targeted a bus, this one in the Deh Sabz area, injuring four soldiers, Mr. Stanikzai said. |
| The Afghan Army and police forces have sustained heavy casualties during a withering Taliban offensive this year. Afghan officials have said that the past six months, starting in late March, were the deadliest for police officers in the 13-year war in Afghanistan. Police casualties have typically been double the level of those of the army. | |
| Much of the fighting in recent months has taken place outside the major cities of Afghanistan, though Kabul, the capital, has not been spared. Two weeks ago, a suicide car bomber killed three coalition soldiers and wounded five others at the gates of an American military base in the city. | Much of the fighting in recent months has taken place outside the major cities of Afghanistan, though Kabul, the capital, has not been spared. Two weeks ago, a suicide car bomber killed three coalition soldiers and wounded five others at the gates of an American military base in the city. |
| The summer’s violence, which took place across the country, even in the once relatively secure north, has challenged assumptions that the Afghan forces can manage the fight against the Taliban on their own. While the signing of the security agreement with the United States sets the stage for the continued training of the Afghan Army, fewer American forces will participate than before. | The summer’s violence, which took place across the country, even in the once relatively secure north, has challenged assumptions that the Afghan forces can manage the fight against the Taliban on their own. While the signing of the security agreement with the United States sets the stage for the continued training of the Afghan Army, fewer American forces will participate than before. |
| The Taliban assaults have created a host of challenges for the Afghan security forces ahead of the American transition at the end of the year, when the number of troops will decline and the focus will fully shift to training Afghan forces. Logistics, like feeding soldiers in areas far afield, remain a challenge, while intelligence gathering and a mastery of complex weaponry are also areas where more work is needed. | The Taliban assaults have created a host of challenges for the Afghan security forces ahead of the American transition at the end of the year, when the number of troops will decline and the focus will fully shift to training Afghan forces. Logistics, like feeding soldiers in areas far afield, remain a challenge, while intelligence gathering and a mastery of complex weaponry are also areas where more work is needed. |
| The attacks on Wednesday came on the heels of the inauguration of a new president, Ashraf Ghani, who was elected in a drawn-out process that required sustained international involvement. One of Mr. Ghani’s chief tasks will be to bolster the security forces. | The attacks on Wednesday came on the heels of the inauguration of a new president, Ashraf Ghani, who was elected in a drawn-out process that required sustained international involvement. One of Mr. Ghani’s chief tasks will be to bolster the security forces. |