Sharon Behn June 24, 2013 VOA News
ISLAMABAD — Afghan forces on Tuesday repelled an early morning Taliban attack on an entrance to the Presidential Palace compound, killing all of the militants involved. The attack took place as a U.S. envoy was in the Afghan capital to push along peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
Witnesses say explosions and gunfire erupted around the palace in central Kabul as militants tried to enter the fortified complex housing the presidential palace, the Afghan Defense Ministry, the U.S. Embassy and a former hotel apparently used by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
News reporters had been called to the palace for a press briefing on the status of peace talks with the Taliban.
Kabul's police chief, General Mohammaed Ayoub Salangi, said the attackers had tried to drive into one of the gates into the highly-secured compound.
He says, “a Land Cruiser car using fake ID came to the gate. While the guards were asking them to show the ID, two to three people came out from the car, and the car exploded. The guards killed all the attackers. The situation is now under control.”
It was not clear where President Hamid Karzai was at the time of the blast.
The Taliban sent messages to local reporters claiming responsibility for the attack. The militants claimed to have “brought death to the enemy.”
Washington's ambassador to Kabul, James Cunningham, in a statement strongly condemned the attack. He said the outcome demonstrated the futility of the Taliban's efforts to use violence to achieve their goals, and called on the militant group to talk to the Afghan government on peace and reconciliation.
Lt. Quentin Roehricht, spokesman for the International Security Forces Afghanistan, did not have any information on casualties, and said Afghan forces were in charge.
“We are aware of reports that there have been attacks in Kabul this morning. Afghan national security forces are leading the response efforts, with ISAF forces ready to respond if requested,” he said.
The Taliban have carried out a number of attacks across the country this year despite efforts to start peace talks with the militant group.
According to the United Nations, civilian casualties are up 24 percent over the same period last year.
Tuesday’s explosion came as U.S. envoy James Dobbins was leaving Kabul after talks with Karzai on how to push forward reconciliation talks between the Afghan leadership and the Taliban. Dobbins arrived in neighboring Pakistan later Tuesday, where he was expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Scheduled talks to end 12 years of war with the militant group in Doha, Qatar fell apart when the Taliban hoisted the flag under which they ruled Afghanistan for five years, causing Kabul to boycott the meeting.
Pakistan is seen as a key player in the reconciliation talks, as it is believed to have access to the Afghan Taliban. Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of harboring the militants.
Witnesses say explosions and gunfire erupted around the palace in central Kabul as militants tried to enter the fortified complex housing the presidential palace, the Afghan Defense Ministry, the U.S. Embassy and a former hotel apparently used by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
News reporters had been called to the palace for a press briefing on the status of peace talks with the Taliban.
Kabul's police chief, General Mohammaed Ayoub Salangi, said the attackers had tried to drive into one of the gates into the highly-secured compound.
He says, “a Land Cruiser car using fake ID came to the gate. While the guards were asking them to show the ID, two to three people came out from the car, and the car exploded. The guards killed all the attackers. The situation is now under control.”
It was not clear where President Hamid Karzai was at the time of the blast.
The Taliban sent messages to local reporters claiming responsibility for the attack. The militants claimed to have “brought death to the enemy.”
Washington's ambassador to Kabul, James Cunningham, in a statement strongly condemned the attack. He said the outcome demonstrated the futility of the Taliban's efforts to use violence to achieve their goals, and called on the militant group to talk to the Afghan government on peace and reconciliation.
Lt. Quentin Roehricht, spokesman for the International Security Forces Afghanistan, did not have any information on casualties, and said Afghan forces were in charge.
“We are aware of reports that there have been attacks in Kabul this morning. Afghan national security forces are leading the response efforts, with ISAF forces ready to respond if requested,” he said.
The Taliban have carried out a number of attacks across the country this year despite efforts to start peace talks with the militant group.
According to the United Nations, civilian casualties are up 24 percent over the same period last year.
Tuesday’s explosion came as U.S. envoy James Dobbins was leaving Kabul after talks with Karzai on how to push forward reconciliation talks between the Afghan leadership and the Taliban. Dobbins arrived in neighboring Pakistan later Tuesday, where he was expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Scheduled talks to end 12 years of war with the militant group in Doha, Qatar fell apart when the Taliban hoisted the flag under which they ruled Afghanistan for five years, causing Kabul to boycott the meeting.
Pakistan is seen as a key player in the reconciliation talks, as it is believed to have access to the Afghan Taliban. Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of harboring the militants.
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