“The Taliban are trying to show that they are able to target the safest province in the country,” said Zahir Saadat, a member of parliament from Panjshir. “In terms of propaganda, this attack could be [a] big achievement for Taliban.” It looks as if it already is: twelve dead at the hands of the people who proudly proclaim that they love death.
“Car Bomb Explodes at Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley Checkpoint,” by Ehsanullah Amiri and Margherita Stancati, Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2014 (thanks to Twostellas):
KABUL—A car bomb exploded Thursday at a checkpoint that marks the entrance to Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, in a rare attack targeting the area that has been the bedrock of anti-Taliban resistance.
At least 12 people—half of whom were security forces and the rest civilians—were killed in the explosion, which took place as cars were lining up to go through security, Afghan officials said.
The attacker was trying to enter the valley but was stopped by officers at the gate, these officials said.
“The suicide blast took place after police identified the attacker,” said Azizur Rahman Kabiri, the governor of Panjshir province. “A second attacker then tried to attack from further back, but he was gunned down by police.” As many as 20 people were injured, most of them civilians, Gov. Kabiri added.
The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the bombing, which is of high symbolic significance. Panjshir is home to legendary commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed by al Qaeda shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. At the time, it was one of few parts of Afghanistan that the Taliban regime never managed to capture.
“The Taliban are trying to show that they are able to target the safest province in the country,” said Zahir Saadat, a member of parliament from Panjshir. “In terms of propaganda, this attack could be [a] big achievement for Taliban.”…