Afghan militants attack Kabul military base 
Kabul 29 Jan (ANA) - Militants have attacked an army base near a military academy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 11 soldiers. Sixteen other Afghan soldiers were injured, a defence ministry spokesman told the BBC.
Five militants were involved, said the spokesman. Four were killed in the attack but one was arrested. The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State (IS), according to the militant group's Amaq news agency.

Earlier reports said the attack had taken place at Marshal Fahim National Defense University, which is near the military base. It comes days after the deadliest bombing for months hit Kabul when Taliban militants in an ambulance packed with explosives killed at least 100 people.


Both the Taliban and IS seem now to be focusing their energies on carrying out attacks in Kabul. Government officials say it is a response to progress made by the security forces elsewhere in the country. US air strikes have helped push the Taliban back from some parts of Helmand Province for example.

However, it could also just be that the militants have decided attacking the capital is a more effective way of undermining confidence in the government and attracting international attention than trying to capture and retain territory in rural areas.

The chief of the Afghan intelligence services said on Sunday he believed the upsurge in attacks was a response to increased US pressure on Pakistan. The US and Afghanistan accuse Pakistan of providing safe havens to militants and President Donald Trump recently suspended security aid to Islamabad. Pakistan has denied the claims.(ANA)
FA/ANA/29 January 2018----------