Minutes after Karzai speaks, suicide bombers attack peace conference in Kabul
Taliban suicide bombers have attacked a gathering of 1,600 delegates in Kabul who gathered to discuss national unity on Wednesday. Minutes after President Hamid Harzai began his address, the attackers—who reportedly bypassed security by disguising themselves in burqas—opened fire. The conference—or, “jirga”—was meant as an appeal to militants to lay down arms and join with the government. “You should provide the opportunity for the foreign forces to leave,” Karzai urged in his address. “Make peace with me and there will be no need for foreigners here. As long as you are not talking to us, not making peace with us, we will not let foreigners leave.” The Taliban, who have claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, claim that Karzai’s peace conference provides “yet another pretext for America to continue the war in Afghanistan.” Two attackers were killed in Wednesday’s attack, but no delegates were injured.