High Alert in Kabul after Taliban Attacks

A day after Taliban attacks, Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has been put on high alert, reported Al Jazeera.

Yesterday’s was one of the most co-ordinated offensives on Kabul since the Taliban were removed from power by a US-led invasion in 2001.

Report said that security was tight in Kabul on Tuesday, with Mohammad Khalil Dastyar, the deputy police chief, saying that vehicles entering the capital were being searched by troops and that number of checkpoints, foot and vehicle patrols were increased.

Farouq Bashar, from Kabul university, was quoted as saying that ‘normal business’ had resumed on the streets of Kabul.

“People are still a little bit panicked. They are trying to stay away from fortified areas, afraid of another attack,” he was quoted as saying.

“The Taliban spokesman said they dispatched 20 suicide bombers to Kabul and only seven of them were killed. We don’t know if the other 13 are alive, or where they are.”

US and NATO officials have admired Afghan forces for successfully dealing with Taliban militants.

Anne Macdonald, a US brigadier general engaged with the Afghan interior ministry, was quoted as saying that the Afghan national security forces ‘responded very well’ to the attacks.

“They (security forces) were able to contain the situation within five hours,” he was quoted as saying.

“The damage could have been much worse – to individuals and to property. They have a long way to go but they are interested and motivated. They want to serve the people of Afghanistan.”