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| Taliban Kill 8 in Northern Afghanistan | |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — Four Taliban insurgents dressed in police uniforms stormed government offices in the northern provincial capital of Kunduz on Monday, killing eight people and wounding 10 more amid a sustained offensive that has put residents and the security forces under siege. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Four Taliban insurgents dressed in police uniforms stormed government offices in the northern provincial capital of Kunduz on Monday, killing eight people and wounding 10 more amid a sustained offensive that has put residents and the security forces under siege. |
| The attack began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at the entrance to theprovincial attorney general’s offices in Kunduz City on Monday afternoon, said Syed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. The initial blast killed a police officer guarding the entry, allowing three insurgents to storm the offices and unleash a wave of carnage. | The attack began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at the entrance to theprovincial attorney general’s offices in Kunduz City on Monday afternoon, said Syed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. The initial blast killed a police officer guarding the entry, allowing three insurgents to storm the offices and unleash a wave of carnage. |
| In addition to the officer at the gate, six prosecutors working for the government were killed, as well as one civilian. Security forces eventually killed the rest of the attackers. | In addition to the officer at the gate, six prosecutors working for the government were killed, as well as one civilian. Security forces eventually killed the rest of the attackers. |
| Security in Kunduz has rapidly deteriorated this summer, one of the first seasons that the Afghan forces have been fighting on their own. Taliban fighters have overrun nearly 20 police posts in outlying districts and surrounded parts of the capital with entrenched positions in villages within the capital city area. | Security in Kunduz has rapidly deteriorated this summer, one of the first seasons that the Afghan forces have been fighting on their own. Taliban fighters have overrun nearly 20 police posts in outlying districts and surrounded parts of the capital with entrenched positions in villages within the capital city area. |
| The state of the province is reminiscent of 2009, when the Taliban had mostly cut off the city just before thousands of American troops were dispatched to beat them back. | The state of the province is reminiscent of 2009, when the Taliban had mostly cut off the city just before thousands of American troops were dispatched to beat them back. |
| The insurgent commander leading the charge in Kunduz, Mullah Abdul Salam, is a figure well-known to both the locals and the security forces. Mr. Salam, a native of the province, has served as its shadow governor before, back in 2009 before he was arrested in Pakistan by that country’s intelligence agency. | The insurgent commander leading the charge in Kunduz, Mullah Abdul Salam, is a figure well-known to both the locals and the security forces. Mr. Salam, a native of the province, has served as its shadow governor before, back in 2009 before he was arrested in Pakistan by that country’s intelligence agency. |
| After a deal brokered by the Afghan High Peace Council last year, the militant leader was able to return to Afghanistan. Since then, his forces have tilted the scales against the government, and in some places have been welcomed by villagers who felt abused by the security forces. | After a deal brokered by the Afghan High Peace Council last year, the militant leader was able to return to Afghanistan. Since then, his forces have tilted the scales against the government, and in some places have been welcomed by villagers who felt abused by the security forces. |
| In an interview of Mr. Salam posted on a Taliban news website, the insurgent leader listed the villages of Kunduz now under the group’s control and a precise — though almost certainly exaggerated — accounting of the attacks against government forces. In a reflection of how the Taliban have continued to step up their public-relations campaign this year, the interview was conducted as a question-and-answer feature — clearly with the Afghan public in mind as an audience. | In an interview of Mr. Salam posted on a Taliban news website, the insurgent leader listed the villages of Kunduz now under the group’s control and a precise — though almost certainly exaggerated — accounting of the attacks against government forces. In a reflection of how the Taliban have continued to step up their public-relations campaign this year, the interview was conducted as a question-and-answer feature — clearly with the Afghan public in mind as an audience. |
| “This dependent and mercenary administration enjoys no support amongst the masses, therefore, their whole system will be rolled back in a very short span of time,” he said, according to the interview posted on Shaharat, a Taliban website. | “This dependent and mercenary administration enjoys no support amongst the masses, therefore, their whole system will be rolled back in a very short span of time,” he said, according to the interview posted on Shaharat, a Taliban website. |
| While life in the heart of the provincial capital remains somewhat normal, a heavy bustle of merchants and workers crowding the bazaars and streets, the battle between the security forces and the Taliban has raged outside. Police officers have taken to riding in civilian vehicles in public, hoping to avoid being targeted by the contact bombs that insurgents have slapped on more than a few official vehicles in the city. | While life in the heart of the provincial capital remains somewhat normal, a heavy bustle of merchants and workers crowding the bazaars and streets, the battle between the security forces and the Taliban has raged outside. Police officers have taken to riding in civilian vehicles in public, hoping to avoid being targeted by the contact bombs that insurgents have slapped on more than a few official vehicles in the city. |
| District officials acknowledge that all but the district centers of some areas belong to the Taliban. Thousands of men loyal to militia commanders rove through provinces inflicting their will on locals, who have in some cases turned to the insurgents for succor. And villagers complain bitterly of constant shelling at the hands of the Afghan Army. | District officials acknowledge that all but the district centers of some areas belong to the Taliban. Thousands of men loyal to militia commanders rove through provinces inflicting their will on locals, who have in some cases turned to the insurgents for succor. And villagers complain bitterly of constant shelling at the hands of the Afghan Army. |
| The insurgents, meanwhile, have pursued a public-relations campaign with the farmers and villagers under their control. They have left boys’ and girls’ schools open. They have pursued a course of evenhanded justice that even government officials acknowledge is an improvement over the corrupt and ineffective formal courts. Finally, they have allowed the government and other agencies to conduct development projects in their areas, a nod to the local populace starved for resources like roads and wells. | The insurgents, meanwhile, have pursued a public-relations campaign with the farmers and villagers under their control. They have left boys’ and girls’ schools open. They have pursued a course of evenhanded justice that even government officials acknowledge is an improvement over the corrupt and ineffective formal courts. Finally, they have allowed the government and other agencies to conduct development projects in their areas, a nod to the local populace starved for resources like roads and wells. |