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New wave of attacks by Taliban, ISIS causes heavy casualties

By Bureau report
January 29, 2018

PESHAWAR: It seems the Afghan Taliban and the ISIS are matching each other in carrying out terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

While the Taliban are able to launch attacks all over the country, including the capital Kabul, the ISIS focus is on Jalalabad and occasionally on Kabul. The eastern Nangarhar province is the stronghold of the ISIS as it partially controls at least three districts - Achin, Haska Maina and Kot - and can easily access some other districts and provincial capital, Jalalabad.

Taliban targetted the landmark Intercontinental Hotel, sited majestically on the Bagh-i-Bala hilltop, through about five suicide bombers. About 30 persons were killed including 14 foreigners, who were specifically targetted by the attackers. Two Afghan diplomats posted in Pakistan and visiting Kabul were among those killed.

It was a serious security lapse on the part of the government as the hotel, run by the state and used by public servants, was supposed to be heavily protected and considered secure. An investigation has been ordered by President Ashraf Ghani and one question being posed is how the Taliban attackers with heavy weapons and explosives managed to reach the hotel. The issue of the private security company that was handed over charge of the hotel a month ago is also under investigation.

However, the investigation may not achieve much if the past is any guide. Attacks in the past were investigated and security was beefed up only to be breached again.

The Jalalabad attackers from the ISIS entered the complex housing the NGO, Save the Children, and certain government departments, and fought until death. About 28 persons were killed or wounded, but many more survived the attack. The ISIS, which is against the NGOs, immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Save the Children confirmed it was suspending its operations and closing its offices all over Afghanistan temporarily. Such attacks are intended to cause scare and force the NGOs and expatriates to leave Afghanistan.

Not to be outdone, Taliban struck again through a suicide bombing in downtown Kabul killing 103 persons and injuring 235. It was described as one of the deadliest bombings on Kabul. The casualties were so high that many termed it a massacre.

Meanwhile, a report released by Afghan Journalists Safety Committee said 2017 was the deadliest year for journalists and the media in the history of Afghanistan. It said 169 incidents of violence and intimidation including killing, injury, beating, detention, threats and verbal assault of journalists and media workers took place in the country. It claimed the 20 journalists who lost their lives last year were killed by the Taliban or the ISIS.

The data of violence showed a 67 percent increase in the incidents compared to the figures from 2016. The report noted that seven percent of the incidents of violence and intimidation were directed at female journalists and media workers. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee said the violence perpetrated by the terrorist groups against journalists rose by 28 percent in 2017 compared to 2016.

Meanwhile, preparations are afoot for starting work on the TAPI gas pipeline in Afghanistan’s Herat province as Turkmenistan is claiming that it has completed the pipeline construction up to its border with Afghanistan. A Turkmen delegation led by foreign minister Rasit Meredow visited Herat to hold talks with Afghan officials and give final touches to the visit of Turkmenistan’s President for inaugurating the work on the pipeline in Afghan territory. The Turkmen government has promised to lay power lines and fiber optics in Herat as part of its assistance for Afghanistan. This was the second high-level delegation from Turkmenistan that visited Herat in the last few months.

The TAPI gas pipeline would bring natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Daulatabad gas fields to Afghanistan and then onward to Pakistan and India. The project has been much delayed but is now getting accelerated.