Council for a Community of Democracies

Taliban Attack Meant to Deter Presidential Run-Off, UN Workers Killed
October 29, 2009
By: Randi Zung

On October 28, Taliban insurgents attacked a guesthouse in Kabul, Afghanistan resulting in eight deaths. The victims included five United Nations workers who were working on the impending election and three Afghans. BBC News reports that after the attack, Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, called the Associated Press to claim responsibility. The New York Times reports that this latest attack was an attempt by the Taliban to destabilize the country’s upcoming presidential run-off election on November 7. It is also reported that at least nine UN workers survived the raid and have been evacuated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

According to The New York Times, three armed gunmen dressed in police uniforms raided the guesthouse wearing explosive devices and began their two-hour long attack just before 6 a.m. The assailants also set the lobby of the guesthouse on fire and stationed a gunman outside of the hotel to prevent the guests from escaping and to prevent the actual police from intervening. It is reported that at least one victim died in the blaze while attempting to escape.

Reuters reports that Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) will open 6,322 polling centers for the second round run-off election, an increase from the original August election. Critics of Afghanistan’s IEC claim that the run-off election is just as susceptible to fraud as the original election, pointing out that many of the polling locations are the same. The UN has previously stated that polling sites where clear evidence of fraud was committed should not be used for the run-off election. In addition to assaults on the hotel, Reuters also reports that the Taliban launched three rockets, one landed on the outer property of the presidential palace and the other two landed near a popular foreign-owned luxury hotel.

Local and international aid organizations in Afghanistan have reported an increase in the number of Taliban threats and attacks since the run-off was declared. According to statistics released by The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, a total of twenty-three aid workers have been killed so far this year. In addition, fifteen workers have been injured. Despite the latest attack, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that the UN “remains committed to continue its work in the country as the Afghan people strive for a better future.” The article also reports that the United States’ government is not deterred by the Taliban’s actions and that the November 7 run-off election will commence as planned.

Souces:
Reuters - Afghan election plan criticised as insufficient
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSSP395055

BBC News - UN chief condemns Kabul killings
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8329543.stm

The New York Times - Attack in Afghan Capital Illustrates Taliban’s Reach
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/world/asia/29afghan.html

The New York Times - UN Re-evaluates Afghan Mission After Bloody Attack
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/29/world/AP-AS-Afghanistan.html