Six US Servicemen killed in Bagram suicide attack

Tuesday, December 22, 2015: Six US service personnel were killed in a suicide attack at the Bagram Air Base, near the Afghan capital Kabul. The latest attack is another link in a series of attacks from the insurgent groups in Afghanistan as the tensions between the government and militants in the country escalate. Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack comes only two weeks after the Kandahar Air Base, another sprawling military complex, was attacked by the Taliban, and was under siege for more than 24 hours until the security forces killed the last of the terrorists. None of the US officials was killed in that attack. However, mostly civilians and the security forces officials lost their lives in the scrimmage.

Monday’s attack was preplanned and is being considered as the deadliest attempt on the US troops in over a decade. An explosive-laden motorbike blasted near a group of US military officials who were meeting with local authorities for a briefing, killing six US service men and injuring another two and a contractor. One Afghan official also incurred injuries, Afghan officials said in a statement.

The attack also comes a few days after US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter visited Afghanistan to meet with US and local officials on matters of security and training of the forces. He said the incident is a painful reminder of what US troops are going through in the country on a daily basis. He assured that an investigation will follow to get to the root of the issue.

“As I saw firsthand during my visit to Afghanistan last Friday, our troops are working diligently alongside our Afghan partners to build a brighter future for the Afghan people,” he said. “Their dedicated efforts will continue despite this tragic event.”

As the US gradually sends off its troops, leaving the vulnerable security situation to the local forces, the Taliban have stepped up their offensive and are strategically targeting the government’s weaker points. However, the Afghan forces are now more capable than they were almost ten years ago. They now have the capability to fend off the insurgents in their attempts to take over territories but they are under-resourced nonetheless.

Taliban, who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, attempted to take control of the business center in Helmand but the local forces beat them back to their trenches once again.

Nicolas Haysom, with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Taliban to end the violence and search for more peaceful dialogue process.

“I call upon the Taliban, who have not yet committed to entering into a peace process, to reciprocate the government’s commitment by themselves stepping forward to directly engage with the government,” Haysom said.

Bagram Air Base is one of the largest military establishments in Afghanistan and has been the primary station for the US troops since they landed in the country in 2001. Majority of the US troops are stationed at the military complex, out of almost 10,000 troops that Obama administration left behind for mostly military training and assistant to the local security forces.