Haqqani terror group confesses to Afghan attacksApril 16, 2012 - 21:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A militant arrested over the attacks on Kabul and three other Afghan cities has confessed that the 18-hour assault was carried out by the Haqqani network, a lethal group of fighters with ties to the Taliban and al Qaida, a top security official said, Belfast Telegraph reported. Interior minister Besmillah Mohammadi revealed that 36 insurgents were killed during the attacks, which also claimed the lives of eight policemen and three civilians. He said a total of 40 policeman and 25 civilians were also wounded in the attacks. It was the most widespread attack in the Afghan capital since an assault on the U.S. Embassy and Nato headquarters last September - an assault also blamed on the Haqqani network, which is based in Pakistan and commands the loyalties of an estimated 10,000 fighters. The violence showed that the Taliban and their allies are far from beaten and underlined the security challenge facing government forces as most of the U.S. and Nato forces prepare to leave by the end 2014. The attacks on the Afghan capital ended on Monday, April 16 when insurgents, who had holed up in two buildings overnight, were overcome by heavy gunfire from Afghan-led forces and pre-dawn air assaults from U.S.-led coalition helicopters. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said dozens of suicide attackers and gunmen were involved in attacks that had been planned for two months to show the insurgency's power after Nato officials called the Taliban weak and said there was no indication they were planning a spring offensive. Mujahid said that the attacks did not mark the start of the insurgents' spring offensive, which would begin shortly, saying: "It is a message for the spring offensive but it has not yet started." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Almaty. Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. |