Taliban planning more ‘spectacular attacks’

ON the second anniversary of its intervention in Afghanistan, the United States said there were signs Taliban guerrillas were planning more spectacular attacks and urged Pakistan to do more to curb Islamic militants.

Zalmay Khalilzad the US special envoy to Afghanistan and ambassador designate to Kabul told a news conference yesterday the fight against “terrorists” in Afghanistan was a long-term struggle.

Mr Khalilzad said he welcomed a recent border operation by Pakistan against the Taliban and al-Qaida, but added it must do more to stop cross-border attacks by Islamic guerrillas. “I think that’s really critical,” he said. “Pakistan cannot become a sanctuary for Taliban and al-Qaida,” he said.

Mr Khalilzad said there had been a surge in Taliban activity in recent weeks, but there were signs the response by American-led forces had been effective. However, he added: “There are indications they are planning even larger attacks, more spectacular attacks perhaps,” he said.

Khalilzad declined to elaborate on the indications to which he referred.

He spoke on the second anniversary of the start of the US bombing of Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, that toppled the Taliban later that year.

The lead up to the anniversary has been the bloodiest period since the overthrow of the Islamic militia, with more than 300 people killed since

the start of August, including aid workers, American soldiers, government officials, troops and many rebels.

The violence has come as the US struggles with resistance in Iraq and after its forces in Afghanistan have failed to net either al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden or Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The US is leading an 11,500-strong foreign military in Afghanistan.

Afghan and US officials complain their task is greatly hampered by the ability of the insurgents to slip back and forth across the Pakistani border.

Pakistan said an operation last Thursday in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, in which it said it killed eight Taliban and al-Qaida suspects, was proof of its commitment to the US-led war on terror.