An Afghan official says hundreds of Taliban insurgents have attacked a security post in the western Farha province, killing at least 10 police and threatening to overrun the position.
Wednesday’s attack came as U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Afghanistan to pledge their continued support to Afghan security forces, who have struggled in recent years against a resurgent Taliban.
Hakim Noori, governor of the Pusht Rod district, said almost 300 Taliban fighters took part in the attack, which began Tuesday night. He said the insurgents mined the area around the base to prevent authorities from sending in reinforcements.
Farid Bakhtawar, head of the provincial council, confirmed 10 police were killed and said the position would be overrun if reinforcements do not arrive soon.
A rocket attack earlier Wednesday on Kabul’s international airport that seemed to be timed to coincide with the official visit wounded 11 civilians. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said authorities responded to the attack and killed three “terrorists.”
Afghan policemen stand guard outside of Kabul’s international airport after rockets exploded in on Wednesday. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)
Tumour Shah Hamedi, director of Kabul airport, said all flights were halted as result of the attack.
Both Mattis and Stoltenberg have pledged continued support for Afghanistan and vowed to do everything possible so the country “doesn’t again become a safe haven for international terrorists.”
Stoltenberg said NATO is aware of “the cost of staying in Afghanistan, but the cost of leaving would be even higher.” He said “if NATO forces leave too soon, there is a risk that Afghanistan may return to a state of chaos and once again become a safe haven for international terrorism.”
Stoltenberg also said NATO was committed to funding the Afghan security forces until at least 2020, and would continue to provide them almost a $1 billion US each year.
