Taliban attack underscores difficulties facing Afghan leader

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An audacious Taliban attack on a Kabul guesthouse that left 14 people dead, including nine foreigners, underscores the difficulties President Ashraf Ghani faces in providing even basic security after the withdrawal of international combat troops from Afghanistan.

The hourslong siege, which ended early Thursday, was the deadliest in Kabul since the insurgents launched their annual "spring offensive" against Ghani's administration in late April, sparking fierce battles that have forced the government to concentrate resources on security at the expense of desperately needed reforms.

An American, a British citizen, an Italian, four Indian nationals and two Pakistanis were among the dead. Five Afghans were also killed and seven were wounded, including a police officer.

By targeting a guesthouse popular with international residents and visitors, the Taliban also stoked fears they were renewing their strategy of killing foreigners, which will undermine Ghani's credibility further in his efforts to bring peace, stability and prosperity not only to Afghanistan but to the broader region.

"The attack shows that Kabul is very vulnerable. An increase in attacks on Kabul can paralyze life here, and if there is a cascade of attacks in Kabul, it can hurt the government," said Haroun Mir, an independent political analyst.

Gunmen stormed the Park Palace Hotel in downtown Kabul as guests gathered Wednesday evening for a concert by a popular Afghan musician attended by an audience that included diplomats, business people, charity workers, academics and others.

As gunfire echoed around the guesthouse in the Shar-i-Naw neighborhood -- near United Nations compounds and a foreign-run hospital -- the area was surrounded rapidliy by heavily armed police and special forces in armored Humvees.

Some 60 people were held hostage until the early hours of Thursday morning. Sporadic gunfire and a series of muffled explosions were heard over about five hours before Kabul police chief Gen. Adbul Rahman Rahimi announced the siege was over. Firefighters moved in quickly to clear the building, which was cordoned off as residents moved out.

The Taliban claimed responsibility in an emailed statement that said the hotel was targeted because of the presence of foreigners, including Americans. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said it was carried out by a lone attacker armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, a suicide vest and a pistol. Authorities in Kabul, however, said three gunmen were involved, and all were killed in the shootout with Afghan security forces.

Ghani condemned the attack and lashed out at the Taliban in a statement Thursday, vowing the insurgents would not derail his plans to bring peace to his war-ravaged nation. He said he had spoken to the leaders of the nations whose citizens were killed, adding: "The terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan cannot harm our country's relationships with other countries with these activities."

Since taking office in September, public support for Ghani has rapidly evaporated, along with faith in his promises to bring reform and peace. His cabinet still lacks a defense minister, and plans to kick-start a moribund economy, creating much-needed jobs after the withdrawal late last year of foreign combat forces and many non-government organizations, have stalled.