Attacks on foreign bases in Afghanistan routine but weak: envoy

SEOUL, July 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top envoy to Afghanistan on Monday eased concerns about a recent series of rocket attacks on a base for South Korean aid workers and troops there, saying the assaults were becoming routine but were a weak show of force, apparently by Taliban rebel groups.
"Attacks on bases with foreign troops are becoming routine," Ambassador Ahn Seong-doo said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. "We must pay close attention to the matter, but I don't think we need to be very concerned."
The South Korean base in Charikar, the capital of the northern Afghan province of Parwan, has come under attack 12 times this year, although no casualties or property damages have been reported. Some 340 Korean troops are stationed at the base to protect about 90 aid workers and police officers on a mission to reconstruct the war-torn nation.
Seven of the attacks took place after the May killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. troops, raising suspicions about possible revenge attacks by Taliban rebels. Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the attacks and the forces behind them.
"It's unclear who is behind (the attacks), but we are suspecting rebel forces including the Taliban," the ambassador said. "It's true that the frequency of attacks has gone up this year, but considering the level of damage, it appears they've lost much of their power."
Ahn, who is in Seoul for a holiday, added that the Taliban forces were weakened in a large-scale attack by U.S. troops last year, possibly prompting them to demonstrate they are still going strong.
"These attacks are likely to continue until the end of the year, but after that, the Taliban forces are likely to grow weaker as the Afghan military and police become stronger," he said.
Meanwhile, the construction of facilities at the base is expected to be completed later this year despite delays from the series of attacks. The facilities, including a hospital and a training center for Afghan police officers, are currently about 80 to 90 percent complete.
"Our team is continuing to deliver supplies to hospitals and other outside facilities, and training police officers in a makeshift warehouse, so our work is not being majorly disrupted," Ahn said.