No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing of Jabar, but Taliban militants have increased their attacks recently on Afghan government officials and security forces.
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Four Afghan policemen and two Spaniards were killed in a 10-hour Taliban siege of a guest house near the Spanish embassy in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, the latest high-profile insurgent attack that ended early Saturday, December 12.
British soldiers carry the dead body of a victim after an attack on a guest house attached to the Spanish embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan today.
According to BBC reports, Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid explained the first attacker detonated his explosives at the entry of the guesthouse while others entered the building and fired on houses that were around. The Spanish embassy was earlier reported to be the target of the attack, but Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy clarified that the assault was nearby and not on the compound.
It said the figures were likely to rise as further information became available, adding that unstable security meant its officials had been unable to conduct detailed investigations in Kunduz. The Spanish Interior Ministry later announced that a Spanish policeman had been killed and a second Spanish officer had later died from injuries sustained in the battle, bringing the total death toll up to seven.
Hours prior to the attacks, Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani stated hopefulness about the peace talks with the Taliban.
The attack comes just days after Ghani’s high-profile visit to Pakistan, where he shored up global support to restart peace talks with the Taliban.
“Or that they are keen to wrangle big concessions from Kabul before they come to the negotiating table”.
His resignation highlighted the domestic backlash Mr Ghani faces over his attempts to fix strained relations with Islamabad.
The president has staked considerable political capital in advocating bonhomie with Afghanistan’s neighbour, which has always been accused of supporting the Taliban.
Ghani shrugged off Nabil’s criticism on Friday, saying Pakistan had promised to go after Taliban factions that refuse to stand down.
“The members of the Security Council reiterated that no violent or terrorist acts can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and by the worldwide community”, the statement concluded. Mr Ghani asked during a press conference on Friday.
But the Taliban rebuffed his remarks.
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The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying Friday’s target was a foreign guest house. “The talks will start in the coming weeks”.
