Eagles of brasstacks [Cyber force]: September 2011

Thursday 29 September 2011

Can The US Afford a Military Conflict With Pakistan?

Pakistan’s forces and its 180 million strong population is ready in ambush. Obama must decide if he is ready to face the wrath of a nation that has held a grudge against this sworn enemy for decades.

Dan Qayyum | PKKH Editorial

In face of the latest and unprecendated downturn in US-Pakistan relations, Pakistan Army can at the very least boast the kind of popular support that President Obama can only dream of.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is the man of the moment, fast turning into a national hero by default, thanks to the hyperbole emanating from Washington. On the other hand President Obama resembles the captain of a ship that is sinking fast.

By Asif Haroon Raja

On one hand India claiming to be champions of democracy, secularism and human rights propagates that India is shining, on the other it suffers from highest rate of poverty, illiteracy, infant mortality, inequalities in society. There is unbounded poverty, mass illiteracy and entrenched social divides. Social system of India is founded on inequality, intolerance, religious extremism. It is perhaps the most unequal country on the planet, with a tiny elite engorged on best education, biggest landholdings, and largest incomes. Those born on bottom rungs of social hierarchy suffer a legacy of caste bigotry, rural servitude and class discrimination. Half of Indian nation sleep on roads while 65% of India’s rural population defecate in the open causing health problems. 2.1 million children under five die in India due to poor sanitation conditions, while 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising food prices. Malnutrition counts for 50% of child deaths. 230 million Indians living in rural areas are undernourished. This is highest figure for any country in the world. National Commission for Enterprises in Unorganized Section (NCEUS) has established that 77% Indian population live on less than Rupees 20/ per day. 88% of Dalits and 84% Muslims are living in abject poverty. Only 5% lead life of luxury and ostentation.

US must remember, Pakistan is a nuclear armed country with professional standing army of over 600,000 men. it can strike back and make the US pay very heavily for her misadventure against Pakistan.

By Dr Raja Muhammad Khan

Pakistani Army Chief General Kayani’s brief and succinct response to the long list of allegations by Admiral Mullen, Pentagon, CIA and US State Department is considered enough for the consumption of all those having misperceptions about Pakistan. This brief response has a message for the US and rest of the world. The message is loud and clear that, US officials are indeed misleading the US people and world at large. It is exactly like they misled the US masses, EU, Arab monarchs and global community before invading Iraq in 2003. CIA led Neoconservatives then projected Saddam Hussain led Iraq as a state having large quantity of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), which is very dangerous for the world peace. However, later events proved that accusation as wrong and misleading. The invaders could not discover any WMD. It was also proved that, US objectives were different and that indeed it was war for the Iraqi hydrocarbons, the black gold.

China's Third Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD Launched

China's Type 071 Yuzhao Class LPD

Islamabad—Fears are growing in Pakistan that the spread of dengue fever also known as break-bone fever may have been caused by some kind of biological experiment or deliberate release of virus by foreign elements.

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representatives have called on security agencies to investigate fears of deliberate spread of dengue virus in Pakistan. According to a report, the PMA members and experts have demanded in-depth investigation over mysterious spread of Dengue virus in Punjab.

Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus and the disease has caused alarming situation in Lahore and other Punjab cities. Lately the disease has spread to other cities of Pakistan and has killed over 100 people affecting thousands. According to experts the virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications.

PAF on Red Alert in View of Possible American Action

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been put on red alert in view of possible American action. Modern fighter aircraft have been deployed at the western border.

Some circles have raised the fear of a US air attack from Afghanistan on North Waziristan. PAF has been alerted as a defensive measure. Air surveillance has also been made more effective by the PAF.

CIA Enjoying Relations With Many Terrorists Groups: Hina Rabbani

WASHINGTON (SANA): Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that Haqqani network was established by United States, adding that CIA also has relations with many terrorist groups.

She said that the US should avoid testing temperament of Pakistan, adding that Pakistan has the right to use options if US would continue blaming Pakistan and the doors of dialogue would be closed due the controversial statements of US leaders.

In an interviews with an Arab and US TV channels , she said that US cannot provide any proofs, adding that US itself established Haqqani network and leveling allegations on Pakistan for ties with Haqqani network.

She said that if we talk about the relations, then she is sure that CIA also maintains ties with a number of terrorist groups of the world, adding that the Haqqani network is also a beloved group of CIA.

KABUL — An Afghan man employed by the U.S. government opened fire Sunday night inside the CIA station in Kabul, killing one American, a government employee, and wounding a second, officials said Monday.

“We mourn the loss of life in the incident as we mourn the loss of all life,” Sundwall said.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Gavin A. Sundwall said investigators believe the gunman acted alone. They have not yet determined what the motive may have been, he said.

The shooting comes two weeks after a 20-hour attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul by a team of gunmen who sprayed Kabul’s heavily guarded diplomatic compound with grenades, rockets and small-arms fire. No Americans were killed or wounded in that attack.

China's Signs Deal with Russia For 150 Fighter Jet Engines: Report

Russia's top jet engine-maker has signed an agreement to supply over 100 high powered engines for China's new fleet of fighter jets, but Beijing is yet to ratify the deal as it is apparently miffed by some stiff conditionalties of the deal, a media report said.

"The contract will involve 140 to 150 engines, but it has not been confirmed by authorities in Beijing," Alexander A Drozhzhin, the head of press for SALUT, a top Russian company that manufactures engines for the Su-27 aircraft, regarded as the fourth generation fighter aircraft was quoted as saying by China's state-run Global Times.

According to US media reports, the Russian state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport (ROE), announced in July a sale of 123 SALUT-made AL-31FN turbofan engines to China for USD 500 million.

The engine is a variant of that used in the Su-27 and Su-30MKK/MK2 fighter jets and is designed to be used on China's single-engine J-10 fighter jet, Drozhzhin said.

The reported deal involves the third series of the AL-31FN, which have a maximum thrust of 12,500 kilogrammes and 2,000-hour service life.

KARACHI:Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday night directed Director-General Rangers Sindh Ejaz Chaudhry to ensure safety of the business community and address their concerns.

He issued the order following a meeting with a 30-member delegation of the business community at the Corps Commanders Headquarters in Karachi. The delegation included presidents of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and heads of various industrial zones.

During the one and a half hour long meeting, the businessmen expressed their concerns regarding the law and order situation. They demanded a permanent role for rangers in policing, establishment of new rangers pickets at key locations in industrial zones and certain constitutional changes that would ensure speedy trials of criminals in the courts.

According to KCCI President Muhammad Saeed Shafiq, it was an important session for the business community “because it is only the army chief who can ensure that our concerns are addressed.”

Sindh Floods: How You Can Help! PKKH

One year after the worst flooding disaster in the history of the region, more floods triggered by heavy rains have devastated parts of Southern Pakistan. About a million people have been affected and tens of thousands have lost their homes in this region which has still not recovered from last year’s floods.

The MERE LOG Project launched by PKKH last year raised over US$ 110,000 last year (around Rs 10 million). Our volunteers worked on ground with Doctors Worldwide (DWW), Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), Pakistan Army and Muslim Aid UK, providing rescue boat services, warm meals, medical assistance and temporary shelters for the victims of the 2010 floods all over Pakistan. Pakistanis from around the world put their trust in us to help our people and may Allah SWT accept our efforts.

Pakistan Navy Fast Attack Craft PNS Azmat was Launched In Tianjin China

The Pakistan Navy has become the first maritime force in the region that is equipped with stealth technology after its first Fast Attack Craft (FAC) equipped with missiles was launched on Tuesday. India also launched its FAC on the same day in Kochi.

“The version Pakistan has bought has far better qualities and added features including cost efficiency and multi-role in any combat activity,” said an insider. “The inclusion of the FAC-M in Pakistan navy will enhance its capacity to fight against terrorism and extremism.”

Lahore High Court Orders Ban On Hate Spreading Websites

http://thegadgets.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/jfacebook_523415a.jpg

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the ministry of information technology to block access to all websites spreading religious hatred.

Justice Azmat Saeed, however, made it clear that no search engine, including Google, would be blocked. The court also directed the ministry to submit a compliance report in this regard by October 6.

The court issued the order after hearing a petition seeking a permanent ban on the American social networking website Facebook for allegedly hosting a competition featuring blasphemous caricatures.

Muhammad & Ahmad, a public interest litigation firm, filed the petition on behalf of Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique.

Top PAF Officials Brief Pak Probe Panel On Osama RaidGen. Petraeus: "I will wage my third war in Pakistan" (after assuming charge of the miltarised CIA)

A Pakistani panel probing the secret US military raid that “killed” Osama bin Laden ( died in 2001 During Tora Bora Campaign ) was today briefed by senior air force officials, ahead of its key visit to the al-Qaeda chief’s compound in Abbottabad next week.

The commission, which is headed by a former Supreme Court judge, visited the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) headquarters, where the chief of the Headquarters Air Defence Command briefed its members on events leading up to the American Terrorist operation in Abbottabad on May 2.

The panel was informed about the locations of low and high-altitude radars and their operational readiness during war and peace time, an official statement said. The chief of the Headquarters Air Defence Command indicated situations where the radar system cannot detect an intruding aircraftor helicopter due to terrain limitations.

He said for the past many years and before May 2, PAF had maintained a peace time posture on its western border with Afghanistan.

Inset: Former U.S. Congressman Walter Fauntroy. Larger photo: AP Photo, Gaia Anderson - Rebel fighters take control of a military vehicle, centre, positioned to defend what used to be Gadhafi's 32nd infantry regiment's base at Mardun, some 10 kilometers from the outskirts of Ban Walid, Libya, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. (Courtesy Photo)

Walter Fauntroy, Feared Dead in Libya, Returns Home—Guess Who He Saw Doing the Killing

Former U.S. Congressman Walter Fauntroy, who recently returned from a self-sanctioned peace mission to Libya, said he went into hiding for about a month in Libya after witnessing horrifying events in Libya’s bloody civil war — a war that Fauntroy claims is backed by European forces.

Fauntroy’s sudden disappearance prompted rumors and news reports that he had been killed.

Akbar Bugti committed suicide and was not killed by the army. This fact is also proved by this statement of Bugti’s closest friend and reported in Daily Times. The propaganda is that army killed Akbar Bugti. Reality is that it is Bugti who killed officers and soldiers of Pak army when he detonated a bomb and committed suicide. Those who think that army killed him, this report is a slap on their face.

All those who are unbiased and want to know the truth understand this fact very well. The Army did not kill anyone, had they wanted to they had no need to send the officers inside the cave, a single missle would have finished the job. The fact of the matter is some elements in the media have sold their souls for US dollars and despite knowing the truth spread nonsense. To counter this nonsesne all patriotic elements must raise their voice and work on those people who are around them, this way every single patriot can work on atleast a dozen people and the cycle of truth can begin to work faster.

Tribute to M M Alam (Pakistan Air Force)

Pakistan Air Force pilot named M M Alam shot down 5 Indian Fighter Aircrafts within 60 seconds in the 1965 war between India and Pakistan.

Egypt protesters stormed Israeli embassy in Cairo

Egyptian police and military forces firing tear gas moved against hundreds of protesters against Israel in Cairo on Friday night, trying to push them away from the Israeli embassy. A stand-off between protesters and police followed, with both sides firing firebombs at the each other. Crowds first gathered throughout the afternoon as well as into the night, advancing on the embassy and tearing down large sections of a security wall outside the 21-storey building.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) officially announced that the country's fighter jets have been equipped with anti-missile capability and are now able to detect and intercept any kind of incoming missiles.

The capability was demonstrated during the third phase of the 'Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Vellayat III' air drills in Northwestern Iran.

The development is viewed as a great achievement for the Iranian weapons and defense industry.

During the military exercises, a missile fired by an F-5 fighter jet was instantly detected and destroyed by a Mig-29 fighter jet.

China on Thursday reaffirmed its support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and said that Israel should join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as soon as possible.

China has always supported the strengthening of international nuclear non-proliferation regime and has been committed to promoting the universality, effectiveness and authority of the NPT, said Huang Wei, China's deputy envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Huang told the ongoing IAEA board meeting that China advocates that Israel should join the NPT as a non-nuclear country as soon as possible and put its all nuclear facilities under the IAEA's comprehensive safeguards.

Special US commandos are deployed in about 75 countries around the world - and that number is expected to grow.

by: Nick Turse is a historian, essayist, and investigative journalist. The associate editor of TomDispatch.com and a new senior editor at Alternet.org, his latest book is The Case for Withdrawal from Afghanistan (Verso Books).

Somewhere on this planet a US commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that 70 times and you're done ... for the day. Without the knowledge of much of the general American public, a secret force within the US military is undertaking operations in a majority of the world's countries. This Pentagon power elite is waging a global war whose size and scope has generally been ignored by the mainstream media, and deserves further attention.

Pakistan To seek Latest Chinese Third Generation Nuclear Technology

Pakistan plans to import the latest Chinese nuclear technology, a senior Pakistani government official said on Wednesday, reported China Daily on Saturday.

“Pakistan is in discussions with Chinese companies for imports of the third-generation nuclear technology,” said Pakistan’s Minister of Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali. The minister said that he hoped the latest technology can be acquired by Pakistan in one or two years.
China has helped with two reactors at Pakistan’s Chashma nuclear power plant, both of which use second-generation technology. Pakistan has a third 300-megawatt (MW) reactor under construction at Chashma, financed by China. There are plans for more Chinese reactors in Pakistan, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Church's site is Hacked by PAK CYBER COMBAT SQUAD with the Message

http://thischurchthatguy.com/

GOD IS ONE

Your God is One God. There is no god but Him (Qur'an, 2:163)

"He is God, Absolute Oneness." (Qur'an, 112:1)

New Testament

... The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength You are right in saying that God is One, and there is no other but Him. (Mark 12:29, 30, 32)

http://indians4justice.org/

Exclusive News: China's "Dark Sword" Stealth Drone New Photos

China's Dark Sword Stealth Drone

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) — Pakistan Thursday angrily reacted to remarks by U.S. defense secretary that Washington would do whatever it takes to defend U.S. forces from Pakistan-based militants launching attacks in Afghanistan.

Leon Panetta’s remarks came two days after Taliban militants from the Haqqani network were blamed for attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Kabul and NATO offices
.
“Time and again we’ve urged the Pakistanis to exercise their influence over these kinds of attacks from the Haqqanis. And we have made very little progress in that area,” Panetta told reporters flying with him to San Francisco on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD: The Haqqani network, one of the most feared insurgent groups in Afghanistan, no longer has sanctuaries in Pakistan and instead feels secure inside Afghanistan, its leader Sirajuddin Haqqani told Reuters on Saturday.

“Gone are the days when we were hiding in the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Now we consider ourselves more secure in Afghanistan besides the Afghan people. Senior military and police officials are with us,” he said.

“There are sincere people in the Afghan government who are loyal to the Taliban as they know our goal is the liberation of our homeland from the clutches of occupying forces.”

Decisions Against Terrorism Will Be Based On Pak Sovereignty: General Kayani

SEVILLE: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani attended the NATO chief of defence meeting in Spain and also met Admiral Mullen.

According to a statement issued by the ISPR, COAS Kayani addressed the meeting and spoke about Pakistan’s role in the war on terror. General Kayani shed light on sacrifices Pakistan had made in the fight against terror.

General Kayani said decisions in the war against terror would be made keeping in mind Pakistan’s sovereignty, national interests and aspirations of the Pakistani nation. Kayani underlined that Pakistan has a sovereign right to formulate its policies in line with it own national interests and the wishes of its people.

Iran launches the first international conference on Islamic Awakening and the popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa in the Iranian capital Tehran.

General Secretary of the conference, Ali Akbar Velayati, announced earlier that more than 500 scholars and prominent figures from 80 countries were participating in the two-day event, which opened Saturday morning at the IRIB International Conference center, IRNA reported.

A number of senior Iranian officials and scholars will also take part in the conference, which will focus on Islamic Awakening and the recent revolutions in Muslim countries.

First Look at Indian Navy's Boeing P-81 : An eye on enemy's weapons

Indian Navy's P-8I


Indian Navy's P-8I

Turkish Frigates to Confront Israhell Ships in Mediterranean

Turkish Navy's Barbaros class frigate F246 Salihreis

The Turkish Navy is planning to dispatch three frigates to the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure freedom of navigation and to confront Israeli warships if necessary, a Turkish news report said on Monday.

The Turkish frigates, to be dispatched by the Navy's Southern Sea Area Command, will provide protection to civilian ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, blockaded by Israel since 2007, the Turkish daily Sabah reported. If the Turkish warships encounter an Israeli military ship outside Israel's 12-mile territorial waters, they will advance up to 100 meters close to the ship and disable its weapon system, in a confrontation that resembles dogfights in the Aegean Sea with Greek jet fighters, according to the report.

Spain Awarded highest military honour to Kayani

MADRID: Spain conferred the country’s highest military honour upon General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Thursday.

The Grand Cross of Military Merit award is the highest military honour conferred by the King of Spain for distinguished service. The award was in recognition of Pakistan Army’s contribution in the fight against terrorism.

According to an ISPR press release, COAS, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani visited the Spanish Joint Staff Headquarters in Madrid where he had meetings with Spanish Defence Minister Ms Carme Chacon and other defence and military officials including Secretary General for Defence Policy, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff.

Indian site Hacked by Kha&miX (Pakistan Cyber Army)

Indian site of internet virus security Avastindian got hacked by Kha&miX (PCA)

http://avastindia.com/

Fox News and Google propaganda Exposed !! Must watch

Fox News and Google is on the top in spreading lies and propaganda against Pakistan. They are continuously attacking on Pakistan through their filthy platform like facebook, youtube, wikipedia, fox news and the biggest lier Google. They called Pakistan as pornistan nauzubillah !! . So we should start campaign against these platforms by working as a cyber defenders of Pakistan.
Their is no beyond the fact that India is on the top in searching porn sites on google, but they show fake report on google insights. they put Pakistan on the top searchers of porn sites. see the report on behave of that.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Indian Government, web developers, Travel Agencies, Watch Sites Hacked By PakCyberPyrates

Pakistani Hackers Group Called PakCyberPyrates Has Hacked Indian Government / Indian web developers / Indian Travel Agencies / Indian Watch Sites after Indian Hackers Had Hacked.

http://apmab.gov.in/
http://www.zone-h.org/mirror/id/14911734

http://aaravholidays.com/
http://www.zone-h.org/mirror/id/14911736

http://www.seasonwatch.in/
http://www.zone-h.org/mirror/id/14911739

Raising American old allegations, US Senator Robert Casey who recently visited Islamabad, said on August 26, this year that he was pressing Pakistan to reduce the flow of explosives material used in roadside bombs that kill US soldiers in Afghanistan.While ignoring the responsibilities of the US-led NATO countries and Karzai-led troops, in the past few years, particularly US civil and military high officials have repeatedly been emphasising Pakistan to ‘do more’ against the militancy in the tribal regions in order to stop cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan. They have unilaterally been blaming Islamabad that level of militancy increased in Afghanistan owing to the militants who entered Afghanistan from Pakistan.In the recent past, the former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, while repeating the false allegations had indicated that Pakistan’s “failure to stop insurgents from Pakistani side of the border” has resulted into “40 per cent rise in the militant attacks in east Afghanistan…infiltration of insurgents in Afghanistan takes place from the safe-havens of FATA.” In this context, on April 20, 2011, US Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has alleged that ISI has been supporting, funding and training fighters that are killing Americans and coalition partners in Afghanistan.

LAHORE – Mr Altaf Hussain’s 200-minute news conference from London had five salient features: Claim that the MQM had taken out no procession in Karachi against the Chief Justice of Pakistan on May 12, 2007, nor had used containers to block his route; pinning the responsibility of the killings that day on the ANP and the Jamaat-i-Islami; ‘disclosure’ of an international conspiracy to dismember Pakistan; the self-exiled leader’s refusal to answer the allegations made by former Sindh minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza; and assertion that the Quaid-i-Azam wanted to see Pakistan as a secular state.

China Made AC-313 Helicopter Hits New Heights

China's AC313 Helicopter

China's domestically developed civilian freight helicopter, the AC313, successfully climbed to a height of 8,000 meters, an altitude that will enable the chopper to fulfill plateau missions.

The AC313, developed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), hit its highest altitude to date during a trial flight on Sept. 2 at Gonghe Airport in northwest China's Qinghai Province, AVIC said in a statement Tuesday.

"The test flight has fully proven the helicopter's function and reliability, and will decide the range of its flight altitude," said Xu Chaoliang, chief engineer of the AC313.

China's AC313 Helicopter

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei has warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic will be swiftly met with 'appropriate' action.

Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defense and respond to any attacks on its territories, IRNA quoted a formal letter of complaint by Iran's UN envoy to the world body's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.

Khazaei lashed out at the "inflammatory remarks and baseless allegations" made recently by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and underlined that the Islamic Republic would take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself.

By Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

The recent sensational events within Pakistan have totally overshadowed international news. First, the mass targeted killings in Karachi, then the kidnapping of an American followed by the kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer and, above all, the blame game of the PPP stalwarts, which all spoilt Eid’s happiness and festivities. Most sensational of all was the shocking disclosures made during Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s press conference.

He put his hand on the Quran, and often placed the Quran on his head, to emphasise that he was telling the truth and nothing but the truth. It seemed like the whole nation was glued to the TV for more than two hours. I listened attentively throughout. He seemed to be sincere and to be telling the truth – there is not an iota of doubt about that.

Iran has launched a mass production of 105-mm and 125-mm hypersonic kinetic anti-tank shells Sahib, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying. Their speed fivefold exceeds the speed of sound, he added.

Vahidi said the new generation of shells is able to penetrate the multi-layer armor tanks, enter into it for half a meter and blast.

ISLAMABAD: One of the country’s leading spymasters has confirmed to ‘The News’ the authenticity of the alleged letter of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain addressed to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and termed it “true”.

The spymaster told this correspondent on condition of not being named that the copy of the letter, which was referred to by Zulfikar Mirza in his recent press conference and is also available on the Internet, is true. The MQM has however already termed the allegations leveled by Mirza baseless and untrue.

The copy of the alleged letter shows the MQM Chief Altaf Hussain seeking disbandment of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in return to offering his party’s services to ground human intelligence within Pakistan and in Afghanistan for the British and other western intelligence agencies. The alleged letter also sought foreign interference into country’s domestic affairs, political and administrative.

KABUL: The Taliban launched an attack on the centre of the Afghan capital on Tuesday, hitting Nato’s coalition force headquarters next to the US embassy in Kabul.

Insurgents fired rockets and assault rifles in the direction of the US Embassy, NATO headquarters and other official buildings this afternoon as gunfire and explosions rocked the heart of the Afghan capital. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The surge of violence was a stark reminder of the instability that continues to plague Afghanistan nearly a decade after the U.S. invasion that ousted the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States. Police said the gunmen were firing from a tall office building that is under construction at Kabul’s Abdul Haq square, which is about 300 yards (meters) from the U.S. Embassy. American officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The American Embassy is on the edge of the Wazir Akbar Khan area, and gunfire and explosions rocked the area, which is home to a number of other foreign missions.

The insurgent group said the ongoing assault began with a suicide attack targeting local and foreign intelligence in the capital.

AFP reporters heard a string of loud blasts while police confirme one explosion and a gunfight close to the heavily-guarded embassy compound.

“Today at one o’clock at Kabul’s Abdul Haq roundabout a massive suicide attack on local and foreign intelligence facilities is ongoing,” said a spokesman for the insurgent group, Zabiullah Mujahid, in a text message to AFP.

A Western military source said Nato’s International Security Assistance Force headquarters was one of the targets.

“ISAF HQ is under attack at the moment,” the source said.