Attack bid by Haqqanis in Kabul foiled, 5 militants dead

Afghan officials on Thursday said that five insurgents linked to the Haqqani network were killed in a pre-dawn gunbattle, claiming to have foiled a major attack on an area of Kabul home to Western embassies.

Afghan officials on Thursday said that five insurgents linked to the Haqqani network were killed in a pre-dawn gunbattle, claiming to have foiled a major attack on an area of Kabul home to Western embassies.

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Spokesman for Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security Lutfullah Mashal said forces discovered maps pinpointing intended targets in central Kabul, including the diplomatic enclave of Wazir Akbar Khan and nearby Shar-i-Naw, but refused to provide further details for security reasons.

The militants - who also had all-enveloping burqas to disguise themselves as women - had planned to seize a tall building from which to fire on their targets, he said.

Acting on intelligence reports on Thursday, security forces raided a house in the eastern Pul-e-Charkhi neighbourhood and a gunfight erupted after the militants refused to surrender.

"The gunfight lasted for six hours and a total of five insurgents were killed," Mashal said.

Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that "all indications and evidence shows they were linked to Haqqani".