Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 21, 2013

Nine-Hour Battle Grips Kabul -- Stars and Stripes

KABUL - A nine-hour siege Monday in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital left at least seven people dead, including three police officers, and brought a normally bustling section of the city to a standstill amid explosions and gunfire.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, which started around 5:30 a.m., when at least four attackers stormed the lightly-defended headquarters of the Kabul Traffic Police, before taking up positions and firing light and heavy weapons down on an adjacent compound that houses the Afghan Border Police. During the attack a car bomb went off outside the headquarters and at least two of the attackers detonated suicide vests, according to a Ministry of Interior statement.

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More News On Afghanistan

Nine-hour gunfight after Taliban suicide bombers attack traffic police building in Kabul leave eight people dead -- Daily Mail
8 killed, 12 wounded in Taliban Kabul attack -- Xinhuanet
4 Taliban, 3 police die in Afghan battle -- UPI
Taliban attack on Kabul police HQ kills 3 officers -- AP
Hours-long Kabul gunfight comes to an end -- Al Jazeera
Coordinated Kabul suicide attack targets government building -- Reuters
Taliban suicide bombers storm government building in Kabul -- Washington Post
Insurgents Attack Police Unit in Kabul -- New York Times
Taliban attackers storm police office in Afghan capital -- CNN
Explosion and gunfire rocks Afghan capital Kabul -- Khaama Press
Kabul police officers killed in Taliban suicide attack -- The Guardian

ISAF Joint Command operational update, Jan 21 -- ISAF
US-led drone attack kills 2 in northern Afghanistan -- Press TV
Afghan family suffer casualties while making explosives -- Khaama Press
Afghan forces reluctant to patrol villages where insurgents may have support -- Stars and Stripes
UN: Prisoners still tortured in Afghan prisons -- AP
Widespread torture continues in Afghan jails: UN -- Khaama Press
U.N.: Abuse widespread in Afghan prisons -- UPI
‘Afghan-sustainable’ policy shifts security burden from coalition -- Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan Returns Impounded Tajik Helicopters -- Radio Free Europe
British general warns western forces not to ruin end game in Afghanistan -- Herald Sun
Veterans recall British army's bloodiest day in Afghanistan -- The Independent