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4 killed as insurgent attacks continue in Afghanistan 6 killed as insurgent attacks continue in Afghanistan
(about 5 hours later)
KABUL — Insurgents struck targets across Afghanistan Friday, killing at least four and wounding scores, extending a string of attacks in recent weeks that have placed Afghans on edge two months into the term of the new U.S.-backed government. KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents struck targets across Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding scores more, extending a string of attacks in recent weeks that have placed Afghans on edge two months into the term of the new US-backed government.
In the volatile southern province of Helmand, a suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives into a police outpost in Nawzad district at around 8:30 a.m., killing four policemen and wounding five, said Omer Zowak, a spokesman for the provincial governor’s office. The most brazen assault began Thursday night when five Taliban suicide bombers and a group of armed fighters tried to infiltrate Camp Bastion, in volatile southern Helmand province, triggering an intense battle that lasted through the night and into Friday morning, said Omer Zowak, , a spokesman for the provincial governor’s office. Afghan army soldiers managed to repel the attack, killing at least five Taliban fighters. Two Afghan soldiers died and six were wounded in the clashes.
In eastern Nangahar province, an explosion inside a mosque during the Friday Juma prayer, the most important prayer of the week for Muslims, wounded at least 26, including three with severe injuries, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a provincial spokesman. Explosives, he said, were most likely placed inside the mosque, in Khogyani district, before the prayers began. The attack was the latest attempt by the Taliban Islamist insurgency to target figures of authority and influence in recent weeks. British and American forces this year pulled out of Camp Bastion, a British base, and transferred it the Afghan national army. The assault exemplified how the Taliban are trying to seize advantage of a military landscape in which most American and international forces have stopped combat operations, and preparing to withdraw by the end of the year.
And in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, three fruit sellers and a passerby were wounded when a bomb exploded in a busy market, said Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the governor of Balkh province. The attack also underscored why Afghan commanders have welcomed President Obama’s decision to expand the US military role next year -- from an advisory one to allowing combat operations against the Taliban if under threat and providing air support to Afghan security forces.
The Taliban Islamist insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack in Helmand Province, but it said it was not behind the mosque attack in Nangahar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Mazar-e-Sharif. Since Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took the oath of office on Sept 29, violence by the Taliban has mounted. The growing insecurity threatens to overshadow Ghani’s trip to a donor conference in London next week, where he’s scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other foreign officials to raise billions of dollars to develop Afghanistan.
The attacks come less than 24 hours after two suicide operations unfolded in the capital, Kabul, on Thursday. One bomber struck a British Embassy vehicle in eastern Kabul, killing six people, including a British citizen, and wounding more than 30. Hours later, three assailants targeted a guesthouse near an Arlington-based aid agency in an upscale district, triggering explosions and fierce gun battles. There were no casualties, although a Nepalese guard was wounded. The assault on Camp Bastion was followed Friday by a spate of other attacks across the country, unusual for a single day even by Afghanistan’s standards. In a separate incident in Helmand province, a suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives into a police outpost in Nawzad district at around 8.30 am, killing 4 policemen and wounding five, said Zowak.
In eastern Nangarhar province, an explosion inside a mosque during the Friday Juma prayer, the most important prayer of the week for Muslims, wounded at least 26, including three with severe injuries, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a provincial spokesman. Explosives, he said, were most likely placed inside the mosque, in Khogyani disctrict, before the prayers began.
And in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, three fruit sellers and a passerby were wounded when a bomb exploded in a busy market, said Munir Ahmad Farhad , a spokesman for the governor of Balkh Province.
The Taliban Islamist insurgency claimed responsibility for both attacks in Helmand province, but said it was not behind the mosque attack in Nangarhar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Mazar-i-Sharif.
The attacks come less than 24 hours after two suicide operations unfolded in the capital, Kabul. One bomber struck a British Embassy vehicle in eastern Kabul, killing 6 people, including a British citizens, and wounding more than 30 on Thursday. Hours later, three assailants targeted a guesthouse near an Arlington-based aid agency in an upscale district, triggering explosions and fierce gun-battles. There were no civilian fatalities.
Mohammad Sharif contributed to this report.Mohammad Sharif contributed to this report.