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13 Afghani Police Officers Killed, 55 Injured in a Taliban Attack on Provincial Police Headquarters, Despite Talks with the US

May 5, 2019

Taliban attack northern police headquarters, May 5, 2019

 

Taliban Stage Deadly Attack on Afghan Provincial Police Headquarters

Voice of America, 06 May 2019, 04:07 GMT+10

ISLAMABAD -

A Taliban suicide car bomb-and-gun attack against a provincial police headquarters in northern Afghanistan has killed at least 13 security personnel and injured more than 55 other people.

Afghan officials said the assault in Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, began around midday Sunday with a Taliban bomber detonating an explosive-laden U.S.-made humvee military vehicle at the main entrance before a group of seven heavily armed insurgents stormed the facility.

Afghan security forces quickly engaged the assailants in a gunfight and neutralized all of them to end the siege that lasted six hours, said an Afghan interior ministry spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi. He noted that 20 civilians were also among those injured.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan security forces. The groups chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed the initial massive explosion destroyed most of the building and multiple Taliban attackers were engaged in gun battles with Afghan forces. He rejected official claims the siege had ended.

The latest insurgent attack comes as a team of U.S. negotiators holds peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar to seek a political settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan. The latest round of discussions began Monday, but neither side has reported any significant outcome.

US-Taliban talks

The Taliban has rejected latest appeals made by American chief negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the United Nations to cease hostilities.

The U.S. side would have to agree and announce a foreign troop withdrawal timetable before the Taliban decides to declare a ceasefire and participate in intra-Afghan peace talks, the groups chief political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, told VOA in an exclusive interview.

The [negotiations] process is going on, maybe slowly, but it is going on. But it has not reached a conclusion. We are trying on our side to have a breakthrough, Shaheen said.

The spokesman insisted they initiated direct talks with the United States not under any compulsion and their ' primary goal is to seek an end to foreign occupation of Afghanistan. We understand other matters are equally important and we do have a plan to deal with them once we get the issue of occupation resolved.'

Washington wants solid Talibans assurances that in the event of a foreign troop drawdown transnational terrorist groups would not be allowed to use Afghan soil for attacks against the United States and other countries.

Khalilzad on Saturday emphasized that all sides need to end hostilities to ensure Afghan peace process is productive.

All sides laying down arms is the outcome of any peace process. All sides agreeing to reduce violence is a necessary step toward achieving that outcome and the morally responsible choice to make. We stand ready, the Afghan-born American diplomat tweeted.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called on all parties to halt fighting during the holy month of Ramadan, beginning Monday.

It is our hope that the observance of Ramadan will provide an opportunity for all communities in Afghanistan to come closer together. In that spirit, the U.N. calls on all parties to the conflict to halt the fighting, a statement quoted UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto as saying Sunday.

 

Afghanistan conflict: Taliban attack northern police headquarters

BBC, May 5, 2019

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The attack began with a suicide bombing

At least seven people have been killed and dozens wounded after Taliban fighters attacked a police headquarters in northern Afghanistan, officials say.

A suicide bomber driving a Humvee loaded with explosives started the assault in the city of Pul-e-Khumri.

Clashes between gunmen and security services followed.

More than 50 were wounded. Women and children were among those killed, an Afghan health official said.

The Taliban, which wants strict Islamic rule in the country, said it carried out the attack.

The group carries out frequent attacks on Afghan forces and now controls more territory than at any point since its toppling in 2001.

Officials say armed Taliban fighters entered the police headquarters after an explosion at its gate before firing on Afghan security services inside.

Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi says two Taliban fighters were shot dead while efforts were being made to "eliminate" any remaining militants.

The group is known to use armoured vehicles laden with explosives to target military and police facilities.

The militants have been holding peace talks with a US envoy in Qatar since October to end the long-running conflict.

Last week, the Taliban rejected a ceasefire agreement proposed by President Ashraf Ghani and Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy for peace in the country.

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