NATO condemns attacks in Afghanistan

NATO strongly condemned Wednesday's terrorist attacks in Kabul, saying they provide further evidence that the Taliban insurgency does not seek the betterment of the Afghan people.
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NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the attacks were "a very clear indication of what the Taliban intends for Afghanistan".u00a0 u00a0

"They have slaughtered a number of civilians, they have attacked government institutions, they have made it very clear that their goal is not the betterment of the Afghan people," Appathurai said.u00a0 u00a0

Several blasts and gunfire rocked the Afghan capital, killing at least 26 people ahead of a visit Thursday by US special envoy Richard Holbrooke.u00a0 u00a0

A senior police official said that a suicide bomber attacked the justice ministry, located in the heart of the city, while gunfire was also heard near the presidential palace.u00a0 u00a0

A separate attack was also carried out against either a police or a foreign convoy in the northern part of Kabul, while witnesses spoke of another suicide bomber who was arrested before detonating explosives at the education ministry.u00a0 u00a0

Asked about comments made to the German press by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who said foreign troops should leave his country by 2015, Appathurai said NATO "has no calendar".u00a0 u00a0

"We want to play the role that we are playing as long as necessary, and not one day more," Appathurai said.u00a0 u00a0

The spokesman also said there could be no direct talks with members of the Taliban who engage in "mass murder".u00a0 u00a0

International troops have been present in Afghanistan under the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since 2002, and NATO has been leading the operation since 2003.u00a0 u00a0

The US also runs a separate peacekeeping mission.