A Series Of Attacks Shakes Afghanistan, Prompting Talks Of Peace

Soldiers in the southern Farah and Helmand provinces of Afghanistan awoke to the sound of explosives as a series of raids were carried out and claimed by the Taliban on Saturday. The wave of attacks consisted of three separate incidents which resulted in the death of at least 20 Afghan soldiers.

3:00 a.m.

Explosions lit up the night sky as Taliban insurgents overran a checkpoint at a military base around 3:00 a.m. in the Farah province. Reinforcements arrived and a firefight was carried out for more than two hours. It was stated that “a large number” of insurgents were killed, though the exact number remains unknown.

The blasts claimed the lives of 18 Afghan soldiers, though more blood was yet to be spilled.

8:30 a.m.

A suicide attacker on foot killed three people and injured five others mere hours following the 3:00 a.m. attack on the military base. This second bloody attack took place near the Kabul Green Zone, approximately a kilometre from where diplomatic compounds, such as the U.S. Embassy and NATO, are located. All three victims of this attack were civilians.

The final attack killed two more Afghan soldiers later that day. A driver operating a military vehicle filled with explosives near the Nad Ali district was responsible for the final lethal event. Not long before this last explosion, another attacker riding a motorcycle containing explosives attempted to target a checkpoint in that area. However, he was identified by Afghan security forces, detonating his explosives before he reached his target.

The attacks temporarily locked down the headquarters of the international forces in Aghanistan, but it was soon opened for a discussion of peace to take place. Members of the NATO delegation met for a briefing to speak of what is to be done in order to restore peace to Afghanistan. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti led the briefing, saying that he believes “substantial progress” was made. It still remains unknown what this progress entails but officials are relieved that action is being taken.

This recent wave of attacks raises questions regarding the possibility of peace within Afghanistan. Only weeks ago President Ashraf Ghani sparked hope within the nation when he extended an offer to hold peace talks this year. United States President Donald Trump dismissed this offer, saying that negotiations with the Taliban are not likely to happen in the near future.

“We don’t want to talk with the Taliban…There may be a time, but it’s going to be a long time,” President Trump stated during a meeting with UN officials.

Afghanistan has endured a number of lethal attacks this year alone- events which are slowly wearing down the hope of civilians and global politicians. The country has been rocked by tragedies week after week, each bloody event growing increasingly more violent.Though talks of peace are still on the horizon, for now, the light in the darkness seems to be coming from blasts during the night.

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