KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The Afghan capital has become a city under siege as the Taliban stage almost daily attacks against government and foreign targets, penetrating layers of heightened security and fueling concerns that insurgents have infiltrated the security forces.
Kabul is protected by a fortress-like “ring of steel,” with police and soldiers manning roadblocks and spot-checking vehicles. Streets around important buildings such as parliament, ministries and the presidential palace are blocked off, while others are protected by razor wire and concrete blast walls.
But in recent weeks, insurgents have managed to attack two foreign compounds in Kabul, carry out a suicide bombing meters away from the office of the city’s police chief, sent suicide bombers against international military bases and convoys, and bombed the car of a prominent female parliamentarian.
The police chief and the parliamentarian survived, but civilian casualties have been high.
This year the Taliban has shown particular strength across the country, with Afghan security forces suffering record-high casualties after taking the lead in the war from international forces in mid-2013. The Haqqani network — which like the Taliban is based in neighboring Pakistan — has also escalated attacks characterized by deployment of suicide bombers.