Afghan guards die in Taliban ambush

KABUL // Taliban gunmen killed eight Afghan guards working at the largest US base in Afghanistan, officials said yesterday. The announcement came as Washington appeared set to boost its troop presence in the country. The guards were ambushed near Bagram base north of Kabul as they drove home in convoy late on Monday, said district governor Abdul Shakoor Quddusi.

“They were all local residents serving as guards at Bagram,” he said. Two guards were wounded. The Taliban said it had carried out the attack, which came as the insurgents inten- sified their spring offensive against western and government targets.

Washington is expected to announce an increase soon in the US military deployment to Afghanistan, to bolster local forces struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency. US military commanders in Afghanistan have asked for thousands of additional troops.

US personnel in Afghanistan now number about 8,400, and there are another 5,000 from Nato allies, a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. They serve primarily as trainers and advisers.

Bagram, about 50 kilometres north of Kabul, is home to the largest contingent of US soldiers in the country.

The assault on Monday came after seven US soldiers were wounded on Saturday when an Afghan soldier opened fire at them inside a northern military base, the second insider attack in a week.

Analysts say such attacks are expected to increase this year as US troops work with the Afghan military to double the size of its special forces, considered to be effective in the fight against insurgents.

Eight guards were ambushed near Bagram base north of Kabul