Taliban Turn to Suicide Attacks

In a worrisome shift away from traditional guerilla tactics, Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan are beginning to deploy suicide bombers against foreigners as well as Afghan government and civilian targets. This change in tactics has increased pressure on Kabul to institute more checkpoints and increase general vigilance. The Christian Science Monitor’s Scott Baldauf spoke with a Taliban insurgent who claims to have more than 200 potential “martyrs” under his command, and plans to step up surprise attacks on foreign targets. Afghans have traditionally condemned suicide attacks, and analysts debate whether the bombers are from Afghanistan or other countries. The shift toward the use of suicide bombers could either signal the increasing desperation of the Taliban or just a new strategy by a resilient group aimed at further unsettling the international aid and rebuilding efforts. – YaleGlobal