Taliban Karzai Attack Propaganda Victory

"It was clearly aimed at grabbing enormous amounts of attention; striking in the center of the capital," Joanna Nathan, a Kabul-based analyst for International Crisis Group, told Reuters on Monday, April 28.

"It was flashed around the world."

In a well-planned attack, Taliban fighters evaded a watertight security cordon and attacked a military parade attended by Karzai, ministers and foreign dignitaries, including the US ambassador.

Three people, including an MP, were killed in the Sunday's daring attack while ten others were injured.

Taliban, which has been engaged in protracted guerrilla warfare against foreign forces and the Kabul government since its ouster by the US-led forces in 2001, has recently proved more media savvy.

It made international headlines for weeks in January after attacking Kabul's five-star Serena Hotel.

The group is also now reaching out to international media to debunk claims by the US and its allies of wining the Afghanistan war.

Irked by the group's media successes, the Kabul government has asked local media to shun statements or press releases from Taliban.

With an aim to give more propaganda value to its attacks, the group has vowed to concentrate its operations this year in the capital.

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The attack also shows the increasing strength of Taliban and its ability to carry out attacks in any place and at any time it chooses.

"…it shows them penetrating what was obviously a high security event," said Nathan, the ICG analyst.

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