:April 2012 Afghanistan attacks

{{Infobox civilian attack

|title = April 2012 Afghanistan attacks

|image = US Embassy in Kabul on July 4th 2010.jpg

|image_size =

|caption =US Embassy in Kabul

|location = Kabul, Nangarhar, Paktia and Logar provinces

|target = Five Embassies, ISAF bases, Parliament, government buildings, airport,{{cite news|title=Coordinated Afghanistan assaults target presidential palace, embassies|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/15/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=15 April 2012|publisher=CNN|date=15 April 2012|author=Mitra Mobasherat|author2=Mohammed Jamjoom}} hotel.

|coordinates = {{Coord|33|N|65|E}}

|date = 13:00 on {{Start date|2012|04|15|df=y}}-
07:00 on {{End date|2012|04|16|df=y}} AST{{cite web|title=Taliban assault on Afghan capital 'over'|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/04/201241634322630352.html|access-date=16 April 2012|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=16 April 2012}}{{cite web|title=Taliban strike across Afghanistan in 'spring offensive'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17719956|access-date=15 April 2012|publisher=BBC|date=15 April 2012}}

|timezone = UTC+04:30

|fatalities = At least 47 killed (39 insurgents, 8 security forces, 4 civilians){{cite web|title=Taliban assault on Afghan capital 'over'|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/04/201241634322630352.html|access-date=16 April 2012|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=16 April 2012}}

|injuries = At least 44 injured (39 security forces, 5 civilians)

|perps = Afghan Taliban{{cite news|title=Afghanistan's Taliban Hit Four Cities in Biggest Spring Attack|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-15/taliban-militants-launch-simultaneous-attacks-across-afghanistan.html|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=15 April 2012|author=Eltaf Najafizada|author2=James Rupert}}
Haqqani Network (suspected){{cite news|title=Taliban attacks rocks Kabul; Afghan interior ministry holds Haqqani network responsible for attacks|url=http://www.sananews.net/english/taliban-attacks-rocks-kabul-afghan-interior-ministry-holds-haqqani-network-responsible-for-attacks/|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=South Asian News Agency|date=15 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610035244/http://www.sananews.net/english/taliban-attacks-rocks-kabul-afghan-interior-ministry-holds-haqqani-network-responsible-for-attacks/|archive-date=10 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

}}

The April 2012 Afghanistan attacks{{cite news|last=Pizzey|first=Allen|title=Taliban's spring offensive is a worrying sign|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/talibans-spring-offensive-is-a-worrying-sign/|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=CBS|date=15 April 2012}}{{cite news|title=Taliban attack Afghanistan in "spring offensive" |url=https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-capital-hit-blasts-gun-attacks-094536251.html |access-date=16 April 2012 |newspaper=Yahoo via Reuters |date=15 April 2012 |author=Hamid Shalizi |author2=Jack Kimball |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417031804/http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-capital-hit-blasts-gun-attacks-094536251.html |archive-date=17 April 2012 }}{{cite news|title=Afghan Forces Respond to Coordinated Attacks|url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=67940|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=United States Department of Defense|date=16 April 2012}} took place on Sunday, 15 April 2012, at around 13:00 local time (08:30 UTC) when heavily armed Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers launched multiple coordinated attacks throughout Afghanistan. Insurgents launched the 2012 spring offensive on multiple locations, including government buildings, military bases, and embassies.{{cite news|title=Western embassies targeted in multiple Taliban attacks in Kabul|url=http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/15/11207702-western-embassies-targeted-in-multiple-taliban-attacks-in-kabul?lite|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=msnbc.com|date=15 April 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716003643/http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/15/11207702-western-embassies-targeted-in-multiple-taliban-attacks-in-kabul?lite|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead}} Attacks occurred in four Afghan provinces, including Kabul and Paktia.{{cite news|last=Shah |first=Amir |title=Taliban attack Afghan capital, 3 other cities |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jNyoCbiOgzkWOvreGH4QHMlNGbqw?docId=811e8cc26d7d45049db5d71be5f4c3ee |access-date=15 April 2012 |newspaper=Google News via AP |date=15 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416181949/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jNyoCbiOgzkWOvreGH4QHMlNGbqw?docId=811e8cc26d7d45049db5d71be5f4c3ee |archive-date=16 April 2012 }} Different reports attribute responsibility for the attacks to either Taliban or the Haqqani network although the Taliban have claimed responsibility.{{cite news|title=Taliban launch coordinated Afghan attacks|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taliban-launch-coordinated-afghan-attacks/|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=CBS News via AP|date=15 April 2012}}

Background

Between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban controlled large portions of Afghanistan following their emergence as a power bloc in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9610/12/afghanistan/map.lg.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825075447/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9610/12/afghanistan/map.lg.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2004|title=Magellan Geographix|publisher=CNN|access-date=16 April 2012}} The majority of Taliban political control centered on Kandahar, although the executive government remained based in the capital, Kabul. During the early parts of the war in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force established a presence in Afghanistan, predominantly around Kabul.

Following a period of stabilization in Afghanistan, attacks started to increase with a growth in suicide bombings since 2006.{{cite news|last=Yousafzai|first=Sami|title=Alone, Afraid, In the Company of Men Dreaming of Death|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/12/22/alone-afraid-in-the-company-of-men-dreaming-of-death.html|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=22 December 2007}} In 2007, the number of Afghan civilian deaths stood at more than 230.{{cite journal|title=Troops in Contact|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/09/08/troops-contact-0#_Toc208224420|journal=Human Rights Watch|date=8 September 2008 |access-date=16 April 2012}} In 2008, there were about 1,000 civilian deaths attributed to the Taliban.{{cite news|title=AFGHANISTAN: UNAMA raps new report by rights watchdog|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report/82502/AFGHANISTAN-UNAMA-raps-new-report-by-rights-watchdog|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=IRIN Asia|date=22 January 2009}} In 2011, the number of civilians killed rose 8% from 2010, with over 3,000 civilian deaths. The vast majority of the casualties were due to activities by insurgents.{{cite news|last=Sieff|first=Kevin|title=Afghan civilian deaths hit record high in 2011, U.N. report says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/afghan-civilian-deaths-hit-record-high-in-2011-un-report-says/2012/02/04/gIQAfyl9oQ_story.html|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=Washington Post|date=4 February 2011}} According to the Associated Press, there are around 25,000 Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan in 2012.{{cite news|title=Numbers of troops, fighters in Afghanistan|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jeDh9aVnCNj5sTPhIds7BO_GPXiQ?docId=6d9c40d187a642cbb5275b62a1af641d|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=Google News via AP|date=17 April 2012|agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Insurgent activities follow an annual pattern with members of the various insurgent groups migrating out of Afghanistan in the winter months. The Spring Offensive is the yearly increase in offensive activity, related to the improving weather, which increases the insurgent groups' ability to maneuver around the country.

Attacks

In the capital of Kabul, many foreign embassies are located in the so-called "Green Zone" of the capital.{{cite news|title=Kabul's Green Zone Under Taliban Attack|url=http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/2012/04/15/kabuls-green-zone-under-taliban-attack/|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=PKKH|date=15 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416222428/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/2012/04/15/kabuls-green-zone-under-taliban-attack/|archive-date=16 April 2012|url-status=dead}} Since NATO took control of the ISAF in 2003, their headquarters is also in the Green Zone.{{cite web|title=ISAF Headquarters|url=http://www.nato.int/isaf/structure/hq/index.html|publisher=NATO|access-date=16 April 2012|archive-date=9 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209034016/http://www.nato.int/isaf/structure/hq/index.html|url-status=dead}}

Major General Carsten Jacobson, the spokesperson for the International Security Assistance Force, said that militants attacked the United States, German, and British embassies in Kabul.{{cite news|last=Mojaddidi|first=Mushtaq|title=Taliban's 'spring offensive' rocks Afghanistan|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hZcVRJeVkLwpLpLA6HP4T3OWeNvw?docId=CNG.a2a2bebe02999cda00aa940d53895211.541|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417160607/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hZcVRJeVkLwpLpLA6HP4T3OWeNvw?docId=CNG.a2a2bebe02999cda00aa940d53895211.541|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2012|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=Agence France-Presse|date=15 April 2012}} The Iranian embassy was also attacked, as was the newly built Kabul Star hotel.{{cite news|title=Taliban 'spring offensive' rocks Afghanistan|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/04/2012415125419254906.html|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=al-Jazeera|date=17 April 2012}} The governor of Laghman Province, Lutfullah Mashal, said that men plotted to kill Karim Khalili, the second Vice President of Afghanistan. Within hours, Afghan security forces and Norwegian special forces captured or killed almost all of the militants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/metziker/albums/72157630367519804/|title=Norwegian FSK/HJK April 2012 Kabul Attack}}

The British SBS were crucial in fighting the terrorists.{{cite web|url=https://www.eliteukforces.info/uk-military-news/190412-sbs-kabul.php |title=SBS Led Kabul Counter Attack |website=eliteukforces.info |date=18 April 2012}}

Norwegian special forces from the Hærens Jegerkommando was crucial in fighting back the attack.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/verden/store_-_-ingen-norske-saret-1.8073796|title = Støre: – Ingen norske såret|date = 15 April 2012}}

Throughout the offensive on the embassies and government buildings in Kabul, members of the Afghan military, Afghan National Police, and National Directorate of Security repelled attacks from the Taliban, including suicide bombers.{{cite news|title=Taliban 'spring offensive' rocks Afghanistan|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/04/2012415125419254906.html|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=al-Jazeera|date=16 April 2012}} During early Monday morning, NATO helicopters searched for militants hiding in buildings near the ISAF headquarters and multiple embassies.{{cite news|title=Heavy fighting continues on Kabul streets|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-idUSBRE83E05620120416|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=16 April 2012|author=Rob Taylor|author2=Hamid Shalizi}} The attack on Kabul lasted 18 hours.{{cite news|title=Taliban siege of Kabul blamed on Nato intelligence|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/16/taliban-siege-kabul-nato-intelligence|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=16 April 2012|author=Emma Graham-Harrison}} At the end of the siege on Kabul, almost 40 militants and eight Afghan soldiers were killed.{{cite news|title=Afghan Forces Quell Attack; Few Civilians Are Killed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/world/asia/complex-attack-by-taliban-sends-message-to-the-west.html|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 April 2012}} In addition, four civilians were killed and 25 were injured across the country.{{cite news|title=Afghan leader Karzai blames attacks on Nato 'failure'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17727036|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=BBC|date=16 April 2012}} The Taliban militants reportedly wore suicide vests and carried both rocket-propelled and hand grenades.{{cite news|last=Popalzai|first=Masoud|title=Taliban: Afghanistan attackers were well-trained|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/17/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=17 April 2012}}

A lone suspected attacker captured by Afghan forces reportedly confessed Taliban assailants who waged the co-ordinated attacks across Afghanistan were part of a 200-member suicide squad trained in Pakistan.{{cite news|last=Mujib|first=Mashal|title=Captured suspect reveals Kabul attack details|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/04/20124198132499838.html|access-date=19 April 2012|newspaper=al Jazeera|date=19 April 2012}}

According to Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, the attacks were "well-coordinated and planned for almost two months".

Aftermath

General John R. Allen, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force, praised the Afghan military's ability to repel the Taliban attacks, saying "They [Afghan security forces] were on scene immediately, well-led and well-coordinated." President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai applauded the actions by Afghan security forces. He told CNN that "the Afghan forces will be able to defend their country as they demonstrated yesterday".{{cite news|title=Karzai: Response to attacks shows Afghan forces ready to defend nation|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=16 April 2012|author= }} However, Karzai said that the attacks were a result of an "intelligence failure for us [Afghanistan] and especially NATO" and called for an investigation.

Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the Interior Minister of Afghanistan, said the attackers belonged to the Haqqani Network, an insurgency group based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Iran, Ramin Mehmanparast, denounced the attacks, saying ""The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the recent terrorist attacks in the capital and certain other provinces of Afghanistan, particularly the attacks on diplomatic centers based in Kabul, and believes that dialogue is the only solution to Afghanistan's security problems."{{cite news|title=Iran condemns terrorist attacks in Afghanistan|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/96984|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=Tehran Times|date=17 April 2012|archive-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406000314/http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/96984|url-status=dead}} The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar condemned the attacks in Afghanistan in a joint statement.{{cite news|title=US presses Pakistan over Afghan attacks|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\04\17\story_17-4-2012_pg1_1|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=Daily Times|date=17 April 2012}} The Pakistani Foreign Minister also called the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul to express her condolences.{{cite news|title=Pakistan condemns Taliban attacks in Afghanistan|url=http://india.nydailynews.com/businessarticle/2b6425973d71cadb548eb5cf25bd63d3/pakistan-condemns-taliban-attacks-in-afghanistan|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=17 April 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard said that Australian forces in Afghanistan will be returning home in the upcoming months, with most troops coming home at the end of 2013.{{cite news|title=Australia to withdraw troops from Afghanistan earlier than expected|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/world/asia/australia-afghanistan-troops/index.html|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=17 April 2012|author= }} On Tuesday, 17 April, Karzai said the Taliban attacks "prolong foreign presence in Afghanistan".{{cite news|title=Karzai: Taliban Attacks 'Prolong Foreign Presence'|url=http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/04/17/karzai-taliban-attacks-prolong-foreign-presence/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402200429/http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/04/17/karzai-taliban-attacks-prolong-foreign-presence/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=Voice of America|date=17 April 2012}}

:April 2012 Afghanistan attacks

Background

Attacks

Aftermath

References

See also