It didn't take the Taliban long to react to the surprise appearance in Kabul of President Barack Hussein Obama as several explosions occurred in the city just shortly after Obama had left - there are also reports of gunfire and the death toll has not yet been reported.
I guess the message is clear to Mr. Obama - if word ever leaks out about your next visit, it might not be a peaceful one as you arrive. The fact that the Taliban can affect this city any time they please after 11 years of war is astounding...and speaks volumes for the type of ROE that this President has installed in this war.
The story comes from Stuff.Com/NZ.
Suicide car bomb in Kabul after Obama leaves
LATEST: Taleban claim to have detonated a car bomb in the Afghan capital that has put the US Embassy on high alert just hours after President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the country.
Police chief Ayub Salangi said a car bomb exploded on Jalalabad road in Kabul, the main road out of the capital heading east, where several US military bases and compounds housing Westerners are located.
Salangi said one of those compounds, known as "Green Village", was the target.
Another police official said the explosion was followed by an exchange of gunfire. Afghan media said heavy casualties were feared.
Associated Press are reporting that there were three explosions followed by sporadic shooting.
Reuters have reported that the Taleban says it carried out the attack.
On Twitter, the US Embassy posted: "Duck and cover here at the embassy. Not a drill - avoid the area".
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Nato-led security mission in the country, also tweeted: "We are aware of explosions in the Kabul area. We are assessing the situation and will provide info as appropriate."
That came shortly after another tweet from "Combat Journalist" that said: "US Embassy Kabul on high alert following two explosions in Kabul."
Obama flew in to Afghanistan this morning to sign a pact with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to cover the decade after the planned final withdrawal of US combat troops in 2014.
The visit came on the first anniversary of the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, killed in a US Navy Seals raid in Pakistan.
-with Reuters
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