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22 Die As Insurgents Battle Afghan Police
Hundreds of insurgents in a convoy of trucks attacked a police headquarters in southeastern Afghanistan, triggering a gunbattle Sunday that killed 22 people, officials said. It was one of the largest shows of anti-government force in over a year. The assault began shortly before midnight Saturday when about 400 guerrillas traveling in trucks drove across the border from Pakistan and attacked the police headquarters in the provinceâs Barmal district, about 125 miles southeast of Kabul, said provincial Gov. Mohammed Ali Jalali. It wasnât clear how he knew the men came from Pakistan.
| Assuming they did, and I'm assuming they did, it's not at all clear how the Pak authorities missed four hundred beturbanned heroes, waving rocket launchers and howling at the moon as they raced for the border in a convoy of trucks. Now me, I notice things like that... |
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 of them — including the district police chief — were killed, Jalali said. The rest, realizing they could put up little resistance, beat it fled. Jalali said between 15 to 20 insurgents were also killed. Provincial police chief Daulat Khan said the attackers retreated with the bodies. The insurgents held the police station until dawn Sunday before destroying the building, getting back in their vehicles and fleeing to Pakistan, five miles away, Jalali said. It was unclear why the attackers retreated, but Jalali said they likely did so because by daylight, word of the attack would have been passed on to the U.S.-led coalition, against which they would be little match. Coalition forces have air power at their disposal and routinely use it when insurgent positions are identified.
| Besides, when daylight came there was no moon to howl at... |
Previous battles between insurgents and government forces backed by the U.S.-led coalition have rarely involved more than 80 guerrilla fighters. Anti-government forces usually move around in small groups on foot. "For a large number of people in vehicles to cross the border in daylight requires some guts as well as some coordination," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. He said the issue would be discussed when Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri visits Kabul on Thursday, and Afghan authorities would press Pakistan to do more to police its side of the border.
| I think that's one of those conversations that starts "What the hell is the matter with you people over there? Are you crazy?" |
Jalali said the insurgents responsible for Sundayâs attack included Taliban and fighters loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former prime minister who heads Hezb-e-Islami, a faction that has called for attacks against foreigners in Afghanistan. He also blamed Pakistanâs intelligence service for playing a role in organizing the assault.
Posted by: Paul Moloney 2003-08-18 |
