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| In Two Attacks, Taliban Target NATO and Afghan Forces | In Two Attacks, Taliban Target NATO and Afghan Forces |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban mounted two attacks on NATO and Afghan forces here on Tuesday, killing one Afghan soldier and wounding at least five other people, including four civilians, officials said. | |
| It was the second time in a week that the Taliban, who are waging a violent offensive across the country, struck at coalition soldiers in the capital, despite NATO’s reduced role in the conflict, focused mainly on training and advising Afghan forces. | It was the second time in a week that the Taliban, who are waging a violent offensive across the country, struck at coalition soldiers in the capital, despite NATO’s reduced role in the conflict, focused mainly on training and advising Afghan forces. |
| The Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks on Tuesday in a statement issued by their spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. | The Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks on Tuesday in a statement issued by their spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. |
| They occurred in the Shah Shaheed neighborhood, in the southeast of the city. Just before noon, a white Toyota Corolla laden with explosives slammed into a NATO convoy of armored vehicles and blew up in front of the house of Pacha Khan Zadran, a former member of the Afghan Parliament, witnesses said. One of the convoy vehicles was destroyed. | They occurred in the Shah Shaheed neighborhood, in the southeast of the city. Just before noon, a white Toyota Corolla laden with explosives slammed into a NATO convoy of armored vehicles and blew up in front of the house of Pacha Khan Zadran, a former member of the Afghan Parliament, witnesses said. One of the convoy vehicles was destroyed. |
| “The soldiers in the destroyed car were quickly evacuated into the second car, a black armored S.U.V. that had minor damage, and left the scene,” said Taj Mohammed, who saw the explosion and its aftermath. | “The soldiers in the destroyed car were quickly evacuated into the second car, a black armored S.U.V. that had minor damage, and left the scene,” said Taj Mohammed, who saw the explosion and its aftermath. |
| Col. Brian Tribus, a NATO spokesman, said no coalition troops had been killed in the attack. Mr. Zadran’s son Obaidullah said four people associated with Mr. Zadran were wounded. | Col. Brian Tribus, a NATO spokesman, said no coalition troops had been killed in the attack. Mr. Zadran’s son Obaidullah said four people associated with Mr. Zadran were wounded. |
| In the afternoon, two assailants tried to enter the compound of the Afghan intelligence agency’s precinct office in the same area. Abdul Hassib Sediqi, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said the two had detonated a tricycle laden with explosives and were wearing suicide vests. | In the afternoon, two assailants tried to enter the compound of the Afghan intelligence agency’s precinct office in the same area. Abdul Hassib Sediqi, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said the two had detonated a tricycle laden with explosives and were wearing suicide vests. |
| “They were brought down before they could detonate their explosives,” Mr. Sediqi said. | “They were brought down before they could detonate their explosives,” Mr. Sediqi said. |
| In eastern Afghanistan, the government said an airstrike in the Achin district of Nangrahar Province had killed the No. 2 commander of the Islamic State group’s operations in Afghanistan. The commander, Gul Zaman, was killed along with his deputy and five others, the Afghan intelligence agency said in a statement. | In eastern Afghanistan, the government said an airstrike in the Achin district of Nangrahar Province had killed the No. 2 commander of the Islamic State group’s operations in Afghanistan. The commander, Gul Zaman, was killed along with his deputy and five others, the Afghan intelligence agency said in a statement. |
| Colonel Tribus, the NATO spokesman, confirmed that “two precision strikes in Achin District” had been carried out on Tuesday “against individuals threatening” coalition troops, but gave no further details. | Colonel Tribus, the NATO spokesman, confirmed that “two precision strikes in Achin District” had been carried out on Tuesday “against individuals threatening” coalition troops, but gave no further details. |
| Reports have surfaced in several Afghan provinces of pockets of antigovernment fighters allying themselves with the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, which mainly operates in Syria and Iraq. Though officials say the fighters are in small groups and are mainly former Taliban members, they fear that the ISIS-affiliated groups will become an easy fallback option for hard-liners who disagree with efforts to negotiate a political settlement to the Afghan war. | Reports have surfaced in several Afghan provinces of pockets of antigovernment fighters allying themselves with the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, which mainly operates in Syria and Iraq. Though officials say the fighters are in small groups and are mainly former Taliban members, they fear that the ISIS-affiliated groups will become an easy fallback option for hard-liners who disagree with efforts to negotiate a political settlement to the Afghan war. |
| Disgruntled members of the Taliban are not the only ones attracted to the Islamic State. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former anti-Soviet commander whose Islamic Party fighters make up a smaller part of the insurgency against the Afghan government, also seems to be leaning toward the new extremist group. | Disgruntled members of the Taliban are not the only ones attracted to the Islamic State. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former anti-Soviet commander whose Islamic Party fighters make up a smaller part of the insurgency against the Afghan government, also seems to be leaning toward the new extremist group. |
| Mr. Hekmatyar recently issued new guidelines to his fighters on how to maneuver on what has become a convoluted battlefield for him, because of his long history of fighting almost everyone. | Mr. Hekmatyar recently issued new guidelines to his fighters on how to maneuver on what has become a convoluted battlefield for him, because of his long history of fighting almost everyone. |
| His orders are that his troops should stay out of any battles between government forces and the Taliban, and let the two sides damage each other because they both oppose him. But in a battle between Taliban fighters and Islamic State adherents, he wants his men to take the Islamic State’s side. |