Kabul, September 4 (NIA): A day after the Taliban waned India not to arm the present Afghan government, the outfit attacked the precincts of the Defense Ministry in Kabul on Monday, with two suicide bombers killing five and injuring 15.
Deputy Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said that the second bombing on Monday was caused by a suicide attacker who struck the area of the first blast after security forces gathered there.
Public Health Ministry spokesman Ismail Kawasi says five people were killed and another 15 were wounded in the attack, which took place as ministry employees were leaving their offices.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group had carried out the attack. The insurgents have been fighting to overthrow the U.S.-backed government for 15 years, and frequently target Afghan security forces. On Sunday the Taliban rebels warned India not to supply arms to the government in Afghanistan.
A Voice of America report from Islamabad said that the Taliban told India that militarily aiding the Afghan government is “clear hostility” towards the war-torn nation.
In its first public reaction to New Delhi’s growing military cooperation with Kabul, the Islamist insurgency alleged Indian aircraft and equipment are being used to kill Afghans and destroy their homes as well as other civilian infrastructure.
“The Islamic Emirate [the Taliban] condemns this action with the strongest of terms,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman for the Taliban in a statement.
Attack helicopters provided
India recently transferred four Russian-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to boost the Afghan Air Force’s ability to assist ground troops fighting Taliban insurgents, and it trains hundreds of Afghan soldiers each year in its military academy.
“We call on India to stop exporting items of killing and destruction to Afghanistan and to stop efforts of prolonging the lifespan of this corrupt regime with its military aid,” Mujahid added.
He accused Afghan forces of using Indian attack helicopters to destroy a key bridge during recent fighting in the volatile northern Kunduz province.
“This cannot be interpreted as anything other than enmity with the Afghans and shall arouse hatred of the people of Afghanistan,” asserted the Taliban spokesman.
Call for more assistance
In August this year, the Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, traveled to New Delhi last month to urge Indian officials there to enhance military aid to Kabul.
“This cannot be interpreted as anything other than enmity with the Afghans and shall arouse hatred of the people of Afghanistan,” asserted the Taliban spokesman.
“I know that the Afghan authorities have asked for more of these helicopters. There is an immediate need for more. When these aircraft come in, they immediately get into the fight,” Nicholson told reporters during his August 10 visit.
Pakistan military’s intelligence agency
U.S., Afghan and Indian officials allege the Pakistan military’s intelligence agency covertly supports the Taliban insurgency and allows it use sanctuaries on Pakistani soil to plot attacks in Afghanistan, charges Islamabad rejects.
Afghan army chief General Quadam Shah Shahim visited India last week to seek enhanced bilateral defense ties besides asking for more military equipment, particularly Mi-25 helicopters.
India has contributed $2 billion in economic assistance for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan since the ouster of the Taliban from power in 2001.
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