An attack in Baghlan Province killed 13 police at a checkpoint. Details are still emerging, and while there’s been no claim of credit, officials blamed the Taliban for the attack.
Attacks on checkpoints are common, but the Taliban usually does so to loot arms and vehicles. In this case, a tank was destroyed, as were several police vehicles.
Blaming the Taliban is a go-to tactic for officials, but ISIS or other, smaller groups are also likely to carry out attacks like this.
Such accusations could be particularly damaging amid the peace talks, as officials seem to be trying to re-frame peace as impossible.
13 Afghan Police Slain in Checkpoint Attack
Officials blame Taliban for Baghlan attack
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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