Skip to main content

Taliban warned Kabul Residents to Avoid “Military Centers


AFP|

The Taliban warned Kabul residents on Monday to avoid “military centres” in the heavily fortified city, saying they are planning more attacks in the Afghan capital where civilians have long borne the brunt of casualties.

The militant group has issued such warnings to civilians before, including during a failed attempt to take the western city of Farah last week, but it is believed to be the first time they have singled out Kabul.

The United Nations has said the capital — where the Islamic State group is also stepping up attacks — is already the deadliest place in the country for civilians.

The Taliban said they were planning more attacks on “the enemy's military and intelligence centres” as part of an annual spring offensive

“Therefore, to avoid civilian casualties and only cause damage to enemy military, we are asking Kabul residents to keep away... we don't want even a single innocent civilian to be killed,” said a statement published online.

In response, the defence ministry said police and troops are “ready to protect the people with all means possible”, and would not allow the militants to reach their “un-Islamic and inhuman goals”.

The Taliban did not define what was meant by “military and intelligence centres”.

Such targets are difficult to avoid given that the overcrowded city is the heart of the country's intelligence, government and military operations and plagued by traffic jams due to ubiquitous checkpoints and barriers.

“Any attacks or explosions, even a small one, would cause civilian casualties because military installations are located in the centre of the city near people's houses,” political and military analyst Nik Mohammad told AFP.

The Taliban's statement was pure propaganda, he said, adding that if they fight in the cities “you will definitely kill civilians, there is no way to avoid that”.
Top target

The Taliban statement came on Monday as officials in the southern province of Kandahar said the insurgents had killed five mine disposal technicians as they were clearing the area in preparation for a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline.

The Taliban have previously pledged to cooperate with the TAPI pipeline, named after the countries taking part in the project: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

An insurgent spokesman said they were still investigating the incident.

The Taliban are stepping up their Al Khandaq spring offensive in an apparent rejection of calls to take up the Afghan government's February offer of peace talks.

The group portrays itself as taking care to avoid civilian casualties, but has claimed attacks such as a massive bomb hidden in an ambulance in January.

This went off in a crowded street and killed more than 100 people.

The extremists' chilling ability to hit at the heart of the country despite increased police checks has spotlighted security and intelligence failures, with the government of President Ashraf Ghani coming under increasing pressure to protect civilians.

Kabul is overflowing with returning refugees and internally displaced Afghans fleeing war and seeking jobs and security.

The city is a top target. It accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Curfew imposed in wana after ‘Taliban’ attack PTM,s Leaders

10 PTM activists, including Wazir’s cousin, injured in the attack PakistanToday : At least 10 people were injured and two suspected Taliban militants were killed in an attack on activists of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), including Ali Wazir and his cousin, in Wana, leading to curfew being imposed in the area. The injured were shifted to Agency Headquarter Hospital Wana for medical treatment where they were declared to be out of danger. According to reports, differences between the two parties developed on Saturday when pro-government militant leader Ain Ullah Wazir forcefully snatched caps from PTM activists and set them on fire. Following the incident, Ali Wazir had condemned the act and called for a sit-in protest from Monday. The militants retaliated and attacked the Mirzalam Khan Wazir Market and the nearby petrol pump, owned by Ali Wazir. However, before the attack, they went to Ali Wazir’s home, armed with guns, and asked him to leave the area of quit PTM....

Russia's says Syria chemical weapons attack was free Plane

Monitor Desk: The U.S. has blood and urine samples from the area the U.S. has blood and urine samples from the area that have tested positive for chemical weapons, according to two American officials.at have tested positive for chemical weapons, according to two American officials. Russia said Friday it had “irrefutable” evidence that the deadly Syria chemical weapons attack that has prompted the U.S. to consider airstrikes was fabricated. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference that there was a “very alarming atmosphere” over the issue and likened plans for a military response to failed action in Libya. “God forbid any other military gambles will be taken in Syria,” he said. Related Lavrov cited "irrefutable data that [this] was yet another staged event and staging was done … by the special services of one of the countries at the forefront of the anti-Russia campaign." His comments come after President Donald Trump called last Saturday’s attack...

Hashim Bakht PTI nominee for Punjab CM

Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is likely to nominate its elected member of Punjab assembly from southern Punjab Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht — the younger brother of Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar — as Punjab chief minister, Morning Mail report. Hashim Bakht is foreign graduate and younger brother of Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, their father has also remained member National Assembly. However, PTI chairman Imran Khan will make the announcement in this regard later. The sources said that Makhdoom Hashim is a strong candidate for the post of chief minister Punjab and he has acquired the support of the majority of senior leaders in the PTI. Khsro Bakhtyar Elder Brother Of Hashim Bakht Hashim Jawan is the younger brother of Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and he was elected from Rahim Yar Khan. Jahan has worked in the banking sector and he was vice president of the corporate sector of the City Bank. Jawan did his B.Com from McGill Universi...