American officials have blamed the bold attack on the US Embassy in Afghanistan's capital on a Pakistan-based group allied with the Taliban, acknowledging that the assault brought a propaganda victory for the insurgents while playing down its military significance.

Pakistani officials have rejected the allegation and have fended off a warning that the United States would do whatever it takes to defend its forces from Pakistan-based militants staging attacks in Afghanistan, saying there was no proof of such cross-border operations.

The attack underscored holes in Afghan security; Six fighters with automatic weapons took over a building in a heavily guarded neighborhood in Kabul on Tuesday, September 13, and fired shots and grenades at the nearby US embassy and NATO headquarters.

The barrage ended on Wednesday morning after 20 hours of fighting when security forces shot dead the six insurgents, who had killed five police officers and 11 Afghan civilians, more than half of them children.

Although the Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault, US and Afghan officials said the Haqqani network likely carried it out on their behalf. The Haqqanis have emerged as one of the biggest threats to Afghanistan's stability, working from lawless areas across the border in Pakistan's tribal region.

AP reports that nearly all Taliban attacks in and around the Afghan capital have been executed by the Haqqanis, who are also allied with al-Qaida. The Haqqani network was also blamed for a weekend truck bombing in eastern Wardak province that wounded 77 U.S. soldiers.

Growing uncertainty

The people paying the highest price for fighting between insurgents and Afghan and foreign security are the Afghans themselves, whose insecurity grows by the day. One man living in Kabul says, "the people here, including myself, we are concerned." He is worried about the growing frequency of such attacks and fears the situation will grow worse "if security forces are not able to improve security."

A security guard who lives in Kabul believes it is possible that the Taliban have been able to penetrate the security forces. "As a security guard, I know it is easy to intercept intruders coming from outside, whereas it is almost impossible to catch criminals who come from the inside. The same goes for terrorists. Maybe they receive support from the top and work with security forces. They can’t just appear out of nowhere."

With growing insecurity, confidence that the police and army can fight the Taliban effectively is rapidly fading. Many believe it is likely the Taliban will return to power in 2014, after security is handed over to Afghan forces.

Government: "The Taliban is losing speed"

But the government does not share this concern. It praises its security forces' performance at every opportunity - like just after the recent attack. Interior ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi said the Afghan police force had proven yet again that it could handle any challenge that comes its way. "The police managed to get the situation under control within a short time and with a minimal amount of damage. It is quite meaningful that the Afghan police are willing to risk their lives to defend their country."

President Hamid Karsai also commended the Afghan police for their outstanding work. He referred to the latest Taliban attack as a sign of weakness and said it was nothing more than a disparate attempt to stop the national reconciliation efforts.

Experts: "The Taliban is getting stronger"

The Taliban have repeatedly refused to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government. They demand an immediate and total withdrawal of all foreign troops and that their leader, Mullah Omar, be recognized as the legitimate leader of Afghanistan.

With these attacks, the Taliban are trying to get the US to back down and leave Afghanistan, says Sayed Masood, political scientist at the University of Kabul. "The Taliban and their affiliates have planned their strategy. They know that war is wearing down the West and that the government in Kabul is under enormous pressure in light of the upcoming withdrawal of NATO troops."

Omar Scharifi, head of "American Studies for Afghanistan" in Kabul, agrees there is pressure on the government. The US citizen believes Afghanistan and Washington are pressed for time and that they might not be able to force the Taliban into negotiations. The Taliban knows that, he says, and that only strengthens their position. "Right now the Taliban are capable of withstanding pressure from the military while they plan more attacks." Scharifi believes the Taliban will not be willing to talk until they are guaranteed the power to rule the country. Then and only then will the Taliban show willingness to compromise.

Author: Shamel Ratbil / Sarah Berning
Editor: Grahame Lucas