Today, the Afghan capital's airport was targeted. Italian troops also come under attack. The body of Giuseppe Rosa, an Italian police officer killed on Saturday in Rafah, has been flown home. Islamic extremism and nationalism are growing. Between 2002 and 2010, the United States spent more than US$ 35 billion for the country's development, but the population has not seen a penny. The Western attempt to impose secularism and the "god of money" in a society based on religion has failed.

Kabul (AsiaNews) - The attack against Kabul airport this morning, which left seven attackers dead, is yet another blow to the 'Peace in progress' policy" trumpeted by the United States and the Karzai government. "Since 2001, Afghanistan has been a battlefield," sources, anonymous for security reasons, told AsiaNews. Since then, "Nothing has changed. 'Peace in progress' are only two empty words without meaning. [. . .] Everyone is waiting for 2014 and the complete withdrawal of foreign troops."

Local witnesses said that the exchange this morning lasted at least an hour. Explosions were heard throughout the capital.

A few hours after the attack, which occurred at 4.00 am (local time), the Taliban claimed responsibility, saying that their goal was to hit the US-controlled airport.

According to their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, at least 44 soldiers were killed, a claim not confirmed by Kabul police Chief General Salangi, who announced instead the death of seven Taliban, five killed by Afghan troops and two who blew themselves up.

In two weeks, this is the second Taliban attack in the capital. The previous one took place on 27 May in central Kabul and cost the lives of four people with dozens wounded. One of the latter was Barbara de Anna, an Italian official with the International Organisation for Migration, currently in a German hospital with serious burns.

In addition to such large-scale military operations, the Taliban have carried out targeted assassinations against foreign troops. On 8 June, an Italian police officer, Captain Giuseppe La Rosa was killed in Rafah by a grenade thrown by an 11-year-old boy.

On the same day, three US soldiers were killed by Afghan colleagues who turned their guns against them, firing at point blank range.

The body of the dead Italian policeman landed today at Ciampino military airport in Rome. A private funeral is scheduled for tomorrow in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina).

In military terms, such insider attacks are a sign of growing popular resentment against occupation troops, sources told AsiaNews.

"For several years now, Afghans have had mixed feelings, resignation and anger," the sources said. "The first is due to the situation of war and instability that started with the Soviet invasion. The second stems from the political and economic impasse of recent years and the Western attempt to develop a religious society through secularism."

Between 2002 and 2010, the US government spent US$ 35 billion for the country's development. According to the sources, "that money went into politicians' pockets. Not a penny went to the people. At the human level, rather than talking with people the military has flaunted its secularism in a country where man is not conceivable without God." This has generated a strong nationalism on the one hand, and a return to Islam on the other.

"Many young people have begun to consider Islam as a solution to their problems. The fear is that the god of money imposed by the West may turn people away from God."

For the sources, the situation will last until foreign nations occupying Afghanistan will focus only security and the fight against terrorism as the only way to promote the good of the population.

"The Afghans want peace, but they unfortunately are losing hope," they said. (S.C.)

• afghanistan
• war
• taliban
• attacks
• italy