Multiple Attacks Rock Kabul Amid U.S-Pakistan Tensions

Multiple attacks occurred in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul over the last several days. On January 27^th, at approximately 12:45pm local time, a man driving an ambulance filled with explosives detonated the vehicle in a shopping area on Chicken Street, where many government offices, and are located. The blast left 95 people dead and approximately 158 injured.

The ambulance driver was able to get through a security check point by claiming he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital. A Taliban spokesman subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.

On January 29^th at approximately 5am local time 5 Islamic State fighters attacked Afghan soldiers guarding a military academy  in the western outskirts of Kabul. 11 Afghan soldiers were killed and another 16 were injured and four IS fighters killed and one captured..

Two of the attackers blew themselves up at the gate of the facility, while two others were killed by Afghan troops. Islamic State’s Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack on its website.

Last Saturday January 20th, the United States and Afghanistan have accused Pakistan of providing support the Haqqani network, which operates across the Pakistani-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan’s failure to take action against terror groups on their own soil is seen as a reflection of a strategy to utilize relationships with these groups to destabilize Afghanistan and highlight its role as a mediator, thus emphasizing Pakistan’s role within Afghan affairs via-à-vis its traditional rival, India.

In early January, the United States suspended security aid to Islamabad, with President Donald Trump blaming Pakistan’s failure to take action against terror groups operating on their soil. The Trump administration has also emphasized the importance of an Indian role in stabilizing Afghanistan, and President Trump recently rejected peace talks with the Taliban.

These attacks within Afghanistan have been taking place on a regular basis for the past year. Islamic State and the Taliban have continued to conduct both large and small scale attacks, despite an increase in the U.S. troop presence which began in August of last year.