A series of militant attacks throughout Afghanistan is a stark reminder of the country’s degeneration. In one of the latest attacks on Afghanistan’s capital, local media reported that four were killed in a bombing attack in Kabul. The area targeted was the Green Village complex in the city, where some foreign NGOs and workers have been known to be based.
Interior ministry officials stated that among those killed, three were Afghan military personnel, one a civilian. Reports have varied on the number of wounded. Some outlets have put the number as high as ninety. Among those wounded, the overwhelming majority of which were civilians, twenty-three were children and twelve were women, according to government reports.
Descriptions of the attack were that of a “huge blast” that rocked central Kabul. The explosion reportedly came from a truck bomb that was driven up to the targeted compound. The payload was so large, in fact, that it was able to deliver significant damage to all the buildings of the compound. While no group has yet to claim responsibility, the Taliban is likely behind the attack.
The Latest in a Trend
The bombing of Green Village is the latest in a string of attacks that have hit Afghanistan recently. Two days earlier, attackers killed five people at a police station in the western province of Herat. The ensuing shootout with security forces led to one attacker being neutralized but the escape of two others. Luckily, officers were able to prevent an even greater disaster when they seized an explosives-laden vehicle that they said the attackers had brought to the scene.
Just weeks prior, several official agencies in Kabul were targeted when gunmen stormed government buildings in the city. At least forty-three people were killed by the time police and military regained control. What was important about this offense was it showed militants were still capable of planning and executing complex attacks in the capital. The operation synchronized a suicide bombing and hostage-taking, along with the assault of the gunmen.
This trend clearly demonstrated that the scourge of attacks through 2018 by both ISIS and the Taliban remains a clear and present threat in Afghanistan.
Bad Timing
The latest attack comes as U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is touring the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war in Afghanistan. Khalilzad has been quite busy. Over the past several weeks, the envoy has met Taliban representatives in Abu Dhabi, Pakistani officials in Islamabad, and is still planning more trips to Afghanistan, China, and India on a diplomatic tour set to last through 21 January.
Unfortunately, one of the key players, the Taliban, is becoming less cooperative by the day. Through the latter part of 2018, there was a glimmer of hope the Islamist group would be able to smoothly reach an agreement with American negotiators, and by extension, the Afghan government. The Taliban itself seemed hopeful a negotiated settlement could be reached, as indicated from one of their own statements in October. Unfortunately, the group has been taking a step back from talks with the United States. With significant roadblocks in front of the diplomatic process and violence in Afghanistan cities only escalating, the future of Afghanistan is looking grim.
