-
An Afghan policeman stands at the site of a blast in Kabul - Source: Reuters -
Related
Taliban fighters opened fire, hurled grenades and staged suicide
bombings in central Kabul, killing 16 people in a show of defiance
against the Western-backed government and a NATO offensive to wipe
them out.
Among the dead were eight Afghans, including three police officers,
four Indian nationals and an Italian, the Afghan Interior Ministry
said.
The French Foreign Ministry said one French national had been
killed in the assault.
The attack came as NATO-led foreign troops and Afghan forces press
ahead with an offensive against the Taliban in their stronghold in
southern Helmand province, a key element of Washington's new
strategy to put down a growing insurgency.
Some 38 people were wounded in the two-hour assault which started
after at least one suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a
guest house frequented by Indians.
"I heard a big blast," witness Quaree Sameh said.
"The glass shattered. The attackers were throwing grenades and
shooting."
The blast triggered car alarms and sent plumes of thick smoke into
the damp and cold morning air at the start of the Afghan
weekend.
"I was inside my room when I heard a loud explosion and then I
could not see if people were killed or wounded because I locked my
door," said an Indian who gave his name as Kashif, who was staying
in the guest house.
Afghan security forces wearing bullet-proof vests rushed to secure
the area, which is home to Kabul's biggest shopping centre,
exchanging fire with the militants.
Others carried out wounded Indians on their backs or
stretchers.
Taliban claims attack
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the
attacks on behalf of the Islamist militants.
"Our mujahideen (holy warrior) fighters managed to attack in the
heart of Kabul city once again," Mujahid said from an undisclosed
location.
He said at least five Taliban fighters launched the attack.
Two suicide bombers detonated explosives-packed vests near the hotel and the City Centre shopping mall.
Three fighters were in the basement of the shopping centre, he
said.
The Taliban frequently attack the capital, targeting foreigners and
public areas. On January 18, Taliban fighters hit multiple
locations in the city including another shopping mall, killing five
people and wounding 38.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attacks, which fell on
a holiday.
"Those who are involved and carried out inhumane and un-Islamic
attacks on a holy day that is the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad
are certainly enemies of Islam and Afghanistan," Karzai said.
The United States and France also condemned the attack.
"The terrorists have once again just proved how little they value
human life, by brutally targeting civilians on the Mawlid holiday,"
French Foreign Ministr Bernard Kouchner said.
India is one of the biggest donors in Afghanistan and is a
supporter of President Hamid Karzai.
The Indian Embassy in Kabul has been attacked twice since
2008.
After the first embassy bombing in July 2008, New Delhi said
Pakistan's military spy agency, the ISI, was behind most attacks on
Indians in Afghanistan to undermine Indian influence.
Pakistan fears being squeezed between India on its eastern border
and a hostile Afghanistan, backed by India, on a western boundary
Kabul does not recognise.
On Thursday, India and Pakistan resumed official level talks to
reduce tensions, their first meeting since the Mumbai attacks in
November 2008.
The meeting ended with only an agreement to keep talking.
US and other NATO-led foreign forces have pushed back against the
Taliban after violence across Afghanistan last year hit its worst
levels since the militants were ousted by US-backed Afghan forces
in late 2001.
Earlier this month, the NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force launched a big offensive in southern Helmand to drive the
Taliban out of their last major stronghold in Afghanistan's most
violent province.
The latest operation in Helmand is an early test of US President
Barack Obama's plan to add 30,000 troops to win control of Taliban
bastions and hand them over to Afghan authorities before the start
of a gradual US troop withdrawal in 2011.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
