19 wounded as Taliban targets Afghan parliament
KABUL: A Taliban suicide bomber and six gunmen attacked the Afghan parliament yesterday as lawmakers met to consider a new defence minister, and another district in the volatile north fell to the militants as they intensified a summer offensive.
The brazen assault on the symbolic centre of power, along with territorial gains elsewhere, highlights how Nato-trained Afghan security forces are struggling to cope with worsening militant violence.
Fighting has spiralled since the departure of most foreign forces from Afghanistan at the end of last year. The insurgents are pushing to take territory more than 13 years after US-led military intervention toppled them from power.
Yesterday’s attack, in which at least 19 people were wounded, began as lawmakers met the new acting defence minister, Masoom Stanikzai, the third candidate so far for the key security post, whose appointment must be confirmed by parliament.
A Taliban fighter detonated a car loaded with explosives outside the parliament gates, said Ebadullah Karimi, spokesperson for the Kabul police, raising questions about how the driver got through several security checkpoints.
Six gunmen took up positions in a building near parliament, he said, but never breached the compound’s gates. Security forces killed the six after a gun battle lasting nearly two hours.
Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said all lawmakers were safe. TV pictures showed the speaker sitting calmly and legislators leaving the building, engulfed in dust and smoke, without panicking.
Four women were among the 19 people wounded, said Sayed Kabir Amiri, a health official.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility.
“We have launched an attack on parliament as there was an important gathering to introduce the country’s defence minister,” he said.
Farhad Sediqi was one of several lawmakers who criticised security agencies for not preventing the attack.
“It shows a big failure in the intelligence and security departments of the government,” he said.
The attack fits a pattern of high-profile assaults on heavily fortified buildings in the capital. Last month, car bombs targeted the ministry of justice and attackers stormed two guest houses used by foreigners. In 2013, the presidential palace was hit and the US embassy has been attacked several times.
A district in the province of Kunduz fell to the Taliban yesterday, the second such loss in two days. Officials said the militants were able to take over when urgently needed reinforcements failed to arrive.