Allauddin khan political analyst
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An audacious Taliban attack on a Kabul guesthouse that left 14 people dead, including nine foreigners, underscores the difficulties President Ashraf Ghani faces in providing even basic security following the withdrawal of international combat troops from Afghanistan.
The hourslong siege, which ended early Thursday, was the deadliest in Kabul since the insurgents launched their annual “spring offensive” against Ghani’s administration in late April, sparking fierce battles that have forced the government to concentrate resources on security at the expense of desperately needed reforms.
An American, a British citizen, an Italian, four Indian nationals and two Pakistanis were among the dead. Five Afghans were also killed and seven were wounded, including a policeman.
By targeting a guesthouse popular with international residents and visitors, the Taliban also stoked fears they were renewing their strategy of killing foreigners, which will further undermine Ghani’s credibility in his efforts to bring peace, stability and prosperity not only to Afghanistan but to the broader region.
“The attack shows that Kabul is very vulnerable. An increase in attacks on Kabul can paralyze life here, and if there is a cascade of att
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The recent talks between US diplomats and the Taliban* "completely go against Washington's policy of not negotiating with the terrorists," opined Amit Sinha, an expert on the Middle East crisis and former consultant to the UN Migration Agency.
"Talking to the representative of Taliban will be another disaster in regard to their Afghanistan policy," Sinha told Sputnik. "India stands with the legitimate Kabul government and is concerned about Islamabad's interference in Kabul's internal policies. The Taliban is Pakistan's only ally among Afghanistan's political actors."
On July 25, The Wall Street Journal broke that Alice Wells, deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia at the US State Department, had met with the representatives of the Afghan Talibanin Qatar.
The Afghan Taliban has not been included in Washington's listof Foreign Terrorist Organizations so far, although the US State Departm
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Despite preliminary gathering, peace take away Afghanistan high opinion as scatterbrained as ever
As another scrap season draws to a close be sold for Afghanistan, reports of federation in Bida between representatives of rendering government good turn the Taleban have increased the tempting prospect elect a negotiated settlement succumb the war.
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