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Loya Jirga targeted

November 17, 2011

Militants have fired rockets near the venue of a grand meeting of Afghan leaders in Kabul, who are discussing crucial US-Afghan strategic partnership.

https://p.dw.com/p/Rwwa
Afghan tribal leaders at the Loya Jirga in Kabul
The Loya Jirga is the biggest and most important assembly of Afghan leadersImage: DW

Thursday strikes, claimed by the Taliban, highlighted security fears at the four-day Loya Jirga (the grand assembly) in which 2,000 Afghan tribal leaders are participating.

Afghanistan's interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said one of the rockets landed by the side of the road near a luxury hotel, which is roughly about 500 meters from the Loya Jirga venue. Sediqqi said the other rocket landed kilometers away from the jirga venue, injuring one civilian.

The US and its western allies toppled the Taliban government back in 2001 after the Islamists refused to handover former al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden to the US, who was believed to be behind the September 11 terror attacks in the US.

Taliban claimed responsibility

Taliban militants
Taliban insurgents are known for exaggerating and distorting their claims of attacksImage: Elham Rohullah
In a text message to journalists, Taliban militants claimed the responsibility of the strikes saying the target of the attacks was the Loya Jirga.

Taliban had earlier threatened to target one of the most crucial Afghan assemblies debating the controversial US military presence in Afghanistan after NATO combat forces leave the country in 2014.

On Monday, a suspected suicide bomber was shot dead near the jirga venue after the Taliban claimed to possess a "leaked security plan" for the Loya Jirga. Afghan government and western officials dismissed Taliban's claims.

Before the rocket attacks, Afghan officials arrested two alleged militants carrying "eight handguns, three assault rifles and one rocket-propelled grenade late Wednesday," Seddiqi said.

Long-term US presence in Afghanistan

Afghan Local Police, ALP, listen to a speech
NATO has handed over security responsibility to Afghan forces in many parts of AfghanistanImage: AP
At the opening session of the jirga on Wednesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai spelled out conditions for allowing the US to keep military bases in the country beyond 2014. He called on the US to stop night raids and respect Afghanistan's sovereignty. Karzai said that the long-term US presence in Afghanistan would be beneficial for his country.

Washington insists it has no plans to stay in Afghanistan forever and that it is helping the Afghan government to fight Islamist militancy.

On Thursday, the Loya Jirga participants are discussing the Afghan president's proposals in 40 separate committees.

Author: Shamil Shams (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Anne Thomas

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