50 die as wave of attacks hit Afghan army, police and U.S special forces

A wave of attacks on Afghan army, police and U.S. special forces in Kabul on Friday killed at least 50 people and wounded hundreds, dimming hopes that the Taliban might be weakened by a leadership struggle after their longtime leader’s death. At least one Nato serviceman was among the dead. The bloodshed began with a truck bomb that exploded in a heavily populated district of the capital and ended with an hours-long battle at a base used by U.S. special forces. It became the deadliest day in Kabul for years. The radical Islamist insurgents claimed responsibility for both the police academy attack and the battle at the U.S. special forces base, though not for the truck bomb.

The question is, who is sending the message?

Thomas Ruttig of the Afghanistan Analysts Network

And the explosions marked a major challenge to Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani, who has made the peace process with the Taliban the hallmark of his presidency since taking office last year. Mr Ghani said he would respond to the attacks with “force and power” but also said he was also determined to continue with efforts to bring peace to the country. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, though officials indicated they blamed the Taliban. Mullah Mohammad Omar, the reclusive one-eyed founder and leader of the Taliban, died two years ago, it has recently been disclosed, and his successor Mullah Akhtar Mansoor has been struggling to heal rifts in the Taliban.

The hope of some people was that the death of Mullah Omar would put the Taliban in disarray and possibly weaken them.

Thomas Ruttig

World Kabul bomb