Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Kabul Attack Shows Security Weakness: MoI

Kabul Attack Shows Security Weakness: MoI

KABUL - The Ministry of Interior has admitted that the storming of Kabul Traffic Department's headquarters by insurgents has revealed the deficiencies of security and intelligence organisations.

A five-man attack launched in the early hours of Monday morning gripped Kabul until the afternoon as the insurgents held off security forces for more than eight hours while attempting to launch explosives from the traffic department windows.

Senior Deputy Minister of Security Affairs Abdul Rahman Rahman acknowledged that the scale of the attack calls into question the capacity of Afghanistan's intelligence bodies and security measures.

"We accept that we have some deficiencies in our intelligence organisations," Abdul Rahman Rahman said at a press conference.

All the more concerning is that Kabul city boasts tougher security with numerous police checkpoints aimed at preventing the transfer of weapons, but Monday's attack was the second in less than a week where insurgents proved to be heavily armed with guns and explosives.

Six armed insurgents launched an attack on the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office in Kabul's Sedarat Square last Wednesday.

Both attacks used car bombs to force a way through walled compounds.

NDS acting chief Hassamudin, who only goes by one name, backed the spy agency's work.

"Our work and information-gathering will continue but unfortunately some incidents like today's will happen," he told reporters.

The concerns for security are important ahead of the planned handover of the whole country to Afghan forces from the NATO forces by the end of 2014.

NATO special forces were involved in bringing an end to today's attack but last Wednesday NDS guards managed to repel the attackers in less than 30 minutes. (Tolo News)