22 killed in Afghanistan raid
2003-08-18 07:58
Kabul - Hundreds of insurgents in a convoy of trucks attacked a police headquarters in southeastern Afghanistan, triggering a gunbattle that killed 22 people, officials said.
It was one of the largest shows of anti-government force in more than a year.
The fierce weekend fighting in Paktika province was the latest in a wave of violence that has underscored just how unstable Afghanistan remains after United States-led forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001.
The assault began shortly before midnight on Saturday when about 400 guerrillas in trucks drove across the border from Pakistan and attacked the police headquarters in Barmal district, about 200km southeast of Kabul, said provincial governor Mohammed Ali Jalali. It wasn't clear how he knew the men came from Pakistan.
Firing rockets, heavy machine guns and grenades, the attackers easily took over the office.
About 15 to 20 Afghan police were in the compound at the time and seven were killed, Jalali said. The rest, realising they could put up little resistance, fled.
Jalali said between 15 to 20 insurgents were also killed. Provincial police chief Daulat Khan said the attackers retreated with the bodies.
Attackers showed 'guts and co-ordination'
The insurgents held the police station until dawn on Sunday before destroying the building, getting back in their vehicles and fleeing to Pakistan, 8km away,said Jalali.
Anti-government forces usually move around in small groups and on foot. Previous attacks have rarely involved more than 80 guerrilla fighters.
"For a large number of people in vehicles to cross the border in daylight requires some guts as well as some co-ordination," said a senior government official on condition of anonymity.
He said the issue would be discussed when Pakistani foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri visited Kabul on Thursday, and Afghan authorities would press Pakistan to do more to police its side of the border.
Jalali said the insurgents responsible for the weekend attack included Taliban and fighters loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former prime minister who headed Hezb-e-Islami, a faction that had called for attacks against foreigners in Afghanistan.
He also blamed Pakistan's intelligence service for playing a role in organising the assault.
Pakistan abandoned its support for the Taliban after the September 11 2001 attacks.
The nation has since become a key ally of the United States in its war on terror, arresting more than 500 suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
However, the conservative tribal belt that runs along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan is believed to be a haven for Taliban, who share ethnic and religious links with Pakistani tribesmen.
Sunday's assault came just days after 64 people were killed on Wednesday in various attacks around the country. The violence included a bus bombing that killed 15 and a battle between feuding warlords, both of whom were loyal to the Afghan government.
- AP