Suicide strikes and target practice in Afghanistan
by Reuters
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Suicide bombers strike inside Afghanistan's fiercely anti-Taliban Panjshir valley Saturday the first time in a decade of war that the insurgents have managed to use their trademark tactic in the normally peaceful northern province.
A coordinated attack by several bombers targeted the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) headquarters, which houses U.S. and Afghan troops and civilians.
Hamid Roshan a spokesman for the government described the attack.
SOUNDBITE: Hamid Roshan is a spokesman for the Province, saying: (Dari):
"A car laden with explosives and driven by suicide bombers exploded near the gate of the PRT. All five suicide bombers plus two PRT guards were killed, one truck driver was wounded and another driver martyred."
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and said the bombers were from Panjshir province.
If true, it would be an alarming sign of growing Taliban support outside their traditional heartland, as the valley was one of the few places in Afghanistan never subdued by the group.
In Kunar Province near the border with Pakistan U.S.. troops fire at targets ahead of a mission to track down insurgents
SOUNDBITE: U.S. Staff Sergeant Patrick Fuaau, saying: (English):
"We get the guys prepped up, a refresher. We got to do these assault missions and stuff. After this we are going to do some stress shooting … get them all sweated up and tired and get them shooting while they are stressed out. It is pretty basic, nothing fancy, nothing sexy, just get us tired."
The United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by year-end and 23,000 more by next summer, as the United States and its NATO allies work toward handing over security to full Afghan control by the end of 2014.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
A coordinated attack by several bombers targeted the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) headquarters, which houses U.S. and Afghan troops and civilians.
Hamid Roshan a spokesman for the government described the attack.
SOUNDBITE: Hamid Roshan is a spokesman for the Province, saying: (Dari):
"A car laden with explosives and driven by suicide bombers exploded near the gate of the PRT. All five suicide bombers plus two PRT guards were killed, one truck driver was wounded and another driver martyred."
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and said the bombers were from Panjshir province.
If true, it would be an alarming sign of growing Taliban support outside their traditional heartland, as the valley was one of the few places in Afghanistan never subdued by the group.
In Kunar Province near the border with Pakistan U.S.. troops fire at targets ahead of a mission to track down insurgents
SOUNDBITE: U.S. Staff Sergeant Patrick Fuaau, saying: (English):
"We get the guys prepped up, a refresher. We got to do these assault missions and stuff. After this we are going to do some stress shooting … get them all sweated up and tired and get them shooting while they are stressed out. It is pretty basic, nothing fancy, nothing sexy, just get us tired."
The United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by year-end and 23,000 more by next summer, as the United States and its NATO allies work toward handing over security to full Afghan control by the end of 2014.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters