On Thursday the 7th of January three regions in Afghanistan witnessed separate episodes of violence. Two of the attacks involved a kamikaze explosion against a military base and an air strike against civilians, while the third targeted a military checkpoint. So far, only the last of three attacks has been claimed by Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Taliban.
The attacks caused the death of about 23 civilians and at least 15 members of the security forces. The kamikaze explosion took place in the province of Uruzgan in the south of the country. The objective of the attack was a military base, located in the provincial capital, Tirin Kot. As for the air offensive, it took place on the periphery of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. The attack caused numerous victims, especially women and children. Finally, in the north of the country, on the border with Tajikistan, Taliban forces attacked a military checkpoint in the province of Kunduz. According to Mujahid, some members of the security forces were killed, while others were apparently taken into custody by the Taliban.
Since the signing of the peace agreements with the United States in February 2020 in Doha, clashes between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents have increased throughout the country. On the 5th of January, the second session of inter-Afghan negotiations began, welcomed by the international community. Many Afghan journalists, those most affected by the recent escalation of the conflict, expressed the urgency of establishing a ceasefire and concluding peace negotiations to end decades of violence.
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Author: Francesca Mencuccini; Editor: Carla Leonetti
