by Abdul Haleem
KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The dreadful attack in Afghan capital Kabul on Friday, which left over a dozen civilians including a few Indian nationals dead, has exposed multiple factors above all the security lapse.
In the shocking incident for which Taliban outfit claimed responsibility, 15 civilians including nine Indians were killed and 32 others sustained injuries.
Five attackers were also killed in explosions and the gun battle lasted for three hours.
The bloody offensive is the second of its nature since January and the third against Indian interest since 2008 in the fortified capital city Kabul, which has raised eye brows and prompted many to question security arrangements.
"This is not the first and will not be the last one. We Afghans would suffer more and more unless and until the security measures put in place are improved," an ordinary Afghan named Abdul Karim said.
A street vender called Karim, 39, said that the victims of terrorist attacks often are ordinary people, saying many of those killed and injured on Friday and in Jan. 18 attacks were common citizens and the only bread earners of their poor families.
"There will be no terrorist attacks if the security organizations discharge their responsibility professionally, check all entry and exit points to the capital city, search all cars including those of VIPs and put full proof security arrangements on place," the terrified Karim said.
Repeated attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan and claiming responsibility by Taliban outfit shows that the radical group regards Indian interests as legitimate target in the post- Taliban country.
Two previous car suicide attacks against Indian embassy to Afghanistan in July 2008 and October 2009 left more than 100 casualties.
The entire Indian victims of Friday's attack were civilians who used to live in two guesthouses in central Kabul.
In addition to attacking Indian mission in Kabul, the Taliban militants had targeted Indian road-building companies as well.
Experts said frequent attacks on Indian missions in Kabul speak of proxy war between regional powers.
They are of the view that rivalry between India and Pakistan, Iran and the United States as well as other countries would negatively affect the reconstruction process and peace efforts in Afghanistan.
India has contributed more than 1.2 billion U.S. dollars to Afghanistan since 2002 and several Indian companies are involved in reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged nation.
The majority of those Indian nationals killed in Friday's attack had worked as doctors in a children's hospital in Kabul and provided health services to needy Afghans.
Furthermore, the shocking attack on Friday in the center of Kabul on broad day light indicates Taliban penetration into fortified capital city and speaks of radical outfit's ability to target anyone at any time.
Friday's attack occurred amid the ongoing joint Afghan-NATO Operation Moshtarak or Together against Taliban bastion in Marjah district of southern Helmand province.
The bloody attack can be regarded as an attempt to divert security forces' attention to cities and thus lower down the pressure on militants in the restive Helmand province.
Aimed at restoring government control in Marjah and surrounding areas, the Operation Moshtarak with the involvement of 15,000 Afghan and NATO-led troops including 5,000 U.S. Marines would continue for 18 months.
Striking Kabul in the wake of the arrest of a number of key Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the second- in-command of Taliban hierarchy in Pakistan, would also inflict a major blow to peace efforts and reconciliation initiated by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
