Major Taliban assault on Kandahar airport continues

Samim Khpalwak, a spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor, told AFP that nine people, including civilians and soldiers, had been killed. – Reuters picBut the attack on one of the most heavily protected air bases in the country underlined their ability to inflict serious damage on security forces still shaken by the Taliban’s brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz in September.

The Afghan military, US forces and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation all use military bases near the airport.

The Afghan officer said that, “The NATO helicopters and aircraft targeted the old school building, and Afghan commandos had also engaged with the attackers.

The enemy has launched the propaganda to claim that the Taliban differences have led to infighting”, Mansoor said in the audio message, Xinhua reported.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesman, said Tuesday’s attack was part of an offensive they have named the Resolute Operation.

Officials said the attackers targeted residential areas within the compound and battled with Afghan forces after breaking past the first gate of the complex, reports AFP.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said there was a “bigger likelihood” of Mansour being injured in a firefight, which highlighted the conflict within the Taliban.

The official said the homes of Afghan army officials were among those attacked.

Afghanistan’s enduring security crisis was highlighted once again on the eve of Ghani’s arrival in Islamabad when dozens were killed during a Taliban attack on Kandahar airport, a major civilian and military hub in the country’s south.

The militants had reportedly taken up positions inside a school in the complex.

The greatest loss for the Talibans were in November 2013 when its leader Hakimullah Mehsud was killed by a drone strike. The general gave no other details and it is not clear whether the 18 dead included the militants.

It was unclear early on Wednesday if any militants had been killed.

“Taj Mohammad, a passenger who just landed at the airport from India, said he was among several others trapped in the terminal”.

On the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad, Sharif and Ghani also held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to end violence in Afghanistan and start peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban.

Cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is seen as essential for Afghan peace but hopes for ties after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated previous year were quickly dashed, largely because of a series of bomb attacks in Kabul.