Afghanistan security forces arrive at the site of a clash between Afghanistan security forces and Taliban fighters in Kabul on May 24, 2013. Explosions and gunfire rocked central Kabul today as the Taliban launched a major attack close to an Afghan intelligence facility and the headquarters of a government force that protects foreign firms. Smoke rose from the site of at least one suicide car blast that started the coordinated assault before commando security forces began an operation to clear several militant gunmen who took up positions in nearby buildings.
Afghan policemen run to the site of a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Kabul on May 24, 2013. Explosions and gunfire rocked central Kabul Friday as the Taliban launched a major attack close to an Afghan intelligence facility and the headquarters of a government force that protects foreign firms.
Afghan policemen help an unidentified foreigner get away from the site of explosions in Kabul May 24, 2013. Taliban militants launched a coordinated attack on a U.N. compound in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul on Friday setting off explosions and battling the security forces.
An Afghan policeman takes up a position after explosions in Kabul May 24, 2013. Taliban militants launched a coordinated attack on a U.N. compound in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday setting off explosions and battling the security forces.
An Afghan university student demonstrates against the Elimination of Violence against Women law, in Kabul on May 22, 2013. The Afghan parliament on May 18 cut short a debate on a bill to protect women from violence after complaints from some traditionalist MPs that it was against Islamic teaching. The Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) law, which was passed by a presidential decree in 2009, is seen as a benchmark piece of legislation marking progress since the fall of the Taliban regime nearly 12 years ago.
A Pakistani driver steers his trailer carrying NATO forces' trucks bound for Karachi, following their arrival from Afghanistan, in Quetta on May 21, 2013. The US military has started to withdraw equipment from Afghanistan through Pakistan ahead of next year's deadline for combat troops to leave the war against the Taliban. Pakistan is a key transit route for the NATO mission in landlocked Afghanistan, from where it is driven to the border from the Arabian Sea port of Karachi.