At least 10 people were killed and 15 wounded in a bombing in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The attack targeted a government convoy belonging to VP Amrullah Saleh. Saleh released a video after the attack showing he had survived.
Officials are suggesting this attack was an attempt by opponents of the peace process to sabotage things. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said that the Afghans would not fall for the trap by “spoilers” trying to prevent peace. He did, however, suggest these spoilers remain desperate, which means they might try more attacks in the future.
Attempted assassinations have often been an attempt to sabotage things in Afghanistan, but the Wednesday bombing was a failure, seen as far too small to successfully kill Saleh. Saleh’s car didn’t even get destroyed, suggesting this was a particularly flimsy assassination attempt.
There is still no timetable for intra-Afghan talks to begin, but all signs are that they will talk very soon, with the last issues of prisoner release also being sorted out. Talks could begin any day now.
As if there will be no more bombings in Afghanistan even after the “peace process” has been completed. One can dream.