The Taliban struck back less than two hours after US President Barack Obama left Afghanistan Wednesday, targeting a foreigners' housing compound with a suicide car bomb and militants disguised as women in an assault that killed at least seven people. It was the second major assault in Kabul in less than three weeks and highlighted the Taliban's continued ability to strike in the heavily guarded capital even when security had been tightened for Obama's visit and Wednesday's anniversary of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan. Obama arrived at Bagram Air Field late Tuesday, then traveled to Kabul by helicopter for a meeting with President Hamid Karzai in which they signed an agreement governing the US presence after combat troops withdraw in 2014. Later, back at the base, he was surrounded by US troops, shaking every hand. Obama, who is in the midst of a reelection campaign, touted the Navy SEAL raid that killed Bin Laden a year ago, noting that the operation was launched from a base in Afghanistan. He also said that “the tide has turned” over the last three years. “We broke the Taliban's momentum. We've built strong Afghan security forces. We devastated Al-Qaeda's leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders,” he said. But the violence that erupted about 90 minutes after his departure was a stark reminder of the difficult task still ahead for Afghan troops as they work to secure their country after US and other foreign troops end their combat mission following nearly a decade at war. The deal signed with Karzai does not commit the United States to any specific troop presence or spending. But it does allow the US to potentially keep troops in Afghanistan through 2024 for two specific purposes: continued training of Afghan forces and targeted operations against Al-Qaeda. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. “This was a message to Obama that those are not real Afghans that are signing documents about this country,” Mujahid said. Meanwhile, the Taliban announced that their “spring offensive” would begin across the country on Thursday. Code-named Al-Farouq, the primary targets of the offensive would be “foreign invaders, their advisors, their contractors, all those who help them militarily and in intelligence”, the militia said on its website.
