JALALABAD, Afghanistan, (Reuters) – Taliban fighters attacked a foreign military base at the main airport in Afghanistan’s east today, one of four incidents in 24 hours that marked a sudden upswing in violence.
In an apparent demonstration that the insurgency has not been weakened despite NATO-led forces saying they have made gains, militants mounted attacks in Jalalabad and Kunar in the east and northern town Kunduz, as well as in the capital Kabul yesterday.
The attacks will likely send a clear message to NATO leaders who will gather for a summit in Lisbon next week that the security question in Afghanistan is still far from resolved, and that the Taliban remain a formidable enemy.
The spike in violence could not come at a worse time for European NATO leaders, who are feeling increasing pressure at home amid sagging support for the drawn-out war.
Today’s attacks in Jalalabad, Kunduz and Kunar also came on the day that marked the ninth anniversary of the Taliban being overthrown in Kabul by U.S-backed Afghan forces for harbouring al Qaeda before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The spike in violence also comes as U.S. President Barack Obama is due to review his Afghanistan war strategy next month.
His commanders have been talking up recent successes and he remains committed to starting a gradual troop drawdown from July 2011, but increased violence would send a terrible message after Obama’s Democrats were mauled in mid-term elections last week.
It also comes as acceptance of the need for a negotiated settlement grows, with peace talks being approached gingerly.
Analysts say that the Taliban have proved in the past that they can time attacks to coincide with important events elsewhere in the world and that a sudden jump in such attacks would not be surprising given the high stakes.
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