At least four gunmen <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-under-attack-by-at-least-four-gunmen-30184">attacked Kabul&#39;s landmark Intercontinental Hotel</a> in a night-time raid on Saturday and started shooting at guests and staff, officials said, in an hours-long assault that is still ongoing.

Afghan media is reporting multiple casualties in the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack in the Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners.

"Four attackers are inside the building," an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency said.

They are "shooting at guests", he said.

A guest hiding in a room said he could hear gunfire inside the 1960s hilltop hotel where dozens of people attending an information technology conference on Sunday were staying.

"I don&#39;t know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor," the man, who did not want to be named, said by telephone.

"We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us."

An official said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they blasted their way into the hotel, which often hosts weddings, conferences and political gatherings.

"Seven wounded people have been taken to hospital," interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, adding that two attackers have been killed.

"Some other guests have been rescued. We will be able to release casualty figures once the operation ends."

Rahimi said the first and second floors of the hotel have been secured by security forces, who are now trying to clear the fourth and fifth floors.

Special forces were being lowered by helicopters onto the rooftop of the hotel, he added.

The fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid, the NDS official said.

"The operation will soon end and the attackers will be killed," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

Security questioned

Authorities are already investigating how the attackers got past security which was taken over by a private company two weeks ago, Danish said.

"They probably used a back door in the kitchen to enter," he said.

Abdullah Sabet, an official at the communications and information technology ministry, said IT officials from around the country were staying at the hotel ahead of a conference on Sunday.

"There were 40 of them in the hotel. We don&#39;t know if any of them have been killed or wounded," Sabet said.

Security at the Intercontinental, which is not part of the global InterContinental chain, is relatively lax compared with other high-end hotels in Kabul.

A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held in one of its function rooms earlier Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy&#39;s political counsellor Zhang Zhixin.

An AFP reporter who attended the conference passed through two vehicle security checkpoints. At the entrance to the building there was a physical inspection that could be easily evaded by scaling a low-level barrier and entering the lobby. &nbsp;

Security alerts sent in recent days to foreigners living in Kabul warned that "extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul" as well as public gatherings and other locations "where foreigners are known to congregate".

The Intercontinental was last targeted in June 2011 when a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban killed 21 people, including 10 civilians.

Security in Kabul has been tightened since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing some 150 people and wounding around 400 others - mostly civilians. No group has yet claimed that attack.

The Islamic State group has claimed most of the recent attacks in the Afghan capital, but authorities suspect that the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network has been involved in some of them.

The deadliest of the recent attacks happened at a Shiite cultural centre on December 29 when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing more than 40 people.

The fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid.

At least four gunmen attacked Kabul's landmark Intercontinental Hotel in a night-time raid on Saturday and started shooting at guests and staff, officials said, in an hours-long assault that is still ongoing. Afghan media is reporting multiple casualties in the attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack in the Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners. "Four attackers are inside the building," an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency said. They are "shooting at guests", he said. A guest hiding in a room said he could hear gunfire inside the 1960s hilltop hotel where dozens of people attending an information technology conference on Sunday were staying. "I don't know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor," the man, who did not want to be named, said by telephone. "We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us." An official said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they blasted their way into the hotel, which often hosts weddings, conferences and political gatherings. "Seven wounded people have been taken to hospital," interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, adding that two attackers have been killed. "Some other guests have been rescued. We will be able to release casualty figures once the operation ends." Rahimi said the first and second floors of the hotel have been secured by security forces, who are now trying to clear the fourth and fifth floors. Special forces were being lowered by helicopters onto the rooftop of the hotel, he added. The fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid, the NDS official said. "The operation will soon end and the attackers will be killed," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. Security questioned Authorities are already investigating how the attackers got past security which was taken over by a private company two weeks ago, Danish said. "They probably used a back door in the kitchen to enter," he said. Abdullah Sabet, an official at the communications and information technology ministry, said IT officials from around the country were staying at the hotel ahead of a conference on Sunday. "There were 40 of them in the hotel. We don't know if any of them have been killed or wounded," Sabet said. Security at the Intercontinental, which is not part of the global InterContinental chain, is relatively lax compared with other high-end hotels in Kabul. A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held in one of its function rooms earlier Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy's political counsellor Zhang Zhixin. An AFP reporter who attended the conference passed through two vehicle security checkpoints. At the entrance to the building there was a physical inspection that could be easily evaded by scaling a low-level barrier and entering the lobby. Security alerts sent in recent days to foreigners living in Kabul warned that "extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul" as well as public gatherings and other locations "where foreigners are known to congregate". The Intercontinental was last targeted in June 2011 when a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban killed 21 people, including 10 civilians. Security in Kabul has been tightened since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing some 150 people and wounding around 400 others - mostly civilians. No group has yet claimed that attack. The Islamic State group has claimed most of the recent attacks in the Afghan capital, but authorities suspect that the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network has been involved in some of them. The deadliest of the recent attacks happened at a Shiite cultural centre on December 29 when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing more than 40 people.

Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack, multiple casualties

Four heavily-armed gunmen raided Kabul`s landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday, shooting at guests and staff and setting the building on fire, officials said, in an hours-long assault that is still ongoing.

Local television channel Tolo News is reporting that at least 15 people have been killed or wounded.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Special forces were lowered by helicopters onto the roof of the luxury hilltop hotel during the siege, interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP, adding two attackers had been killed.&nbsp;

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest assault in the war-torn Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners.

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<h5>We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us&#39;</h5>
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It is not clear how many people are still inside the hotel, which was previously attacked by Taliban militants in 2011, or whether any foreigners are among them.

&quot;Four attackers are inside the building,&quot; an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency told AFP at the beginning of the attack. They are &quot;shooting at guests&quot;, he said.

A guest hiding in a room told AFP he could hear gunfire inside the 1960s hotel where dozens of people attending an information technology conference on Sunday were staying.

&quot;I don`t know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor,&quot; the man, who did not want to be named, said by telephone.

&quot;We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us.&quot;

His phone was switched off when AFP tried to contact him again.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-under-attack-by-at-least-four-gunmen-30184" target="_blank">Kabul&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel under attack &#39;by at least four gunmen&#39;</a>

Rahimi said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they stormed the hotel, which is a popular venue for weddings, conferences and political gatherings.

&quot;Seven wounded people have been taken to hospital,&quot; Rahimi said.

&quot;Some other guests have been rescued. We will be able to release casualty figures once the operation ends.&quot;&nbsp;

But several hours after the attack started Afghan security spokesmen switched off their mobile phones or refused to answer AFP`s calls for an update.

Afghan media is reporting multiple casualties in the attack, which comes days after a UN Security Council delegation visited Kabul for a close-up view of the conflict.

The fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid, the NDS official said.The last major attack on a high-end hotel in Kabul was in March 2014 when four teenage gunmen raided the Serena, killing nine people including an AFP journalist.&nbsp;

The Intercontinental was targeted in June 2011 when a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban killed 21 people, including 10 civilians.

Even before Saturday`s attack was over, authorities were questioning how the assailants got past the hotel`s security, which was taken over by a private company two weeks ago, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP.

&quot;They probably used a back door in the kitchen to enter,&quot; he said.

Abdullah Sabet, an official at the communications and information technology ministry, said IT officials from around the country were staying at the hotel ahead of a conference on Sunday.&nbsp;

&quot;There were 40 of them in the hotel. We don`t know if any of them have been killed or wounded,&quot; Sabet said.

Security at the Intercontinental, which is not part of the global InterContinental chain, is relatively lax compared with other luxury hotels in Kabul.

A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held in one of its function rooms earlier Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy`s political counsellor Zhang Zhixin.

An AFP reporter who attended the conference passed through two vehicle security checkpoints. At the entrance to the building, there was a physical inspection that could be easily evaded by scaling a low-level barrier and entering the lobby.&nbsp;

Security alerts sent in recent days to foreigners living in the Afghan capital warned that &quot;extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul&quot; as well as public gatherings and other locations &quot;where foreigners are known to congregate&quot;.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said it was not known if any American citizens had been caught up in the attack.

Security in Kabul has been tightened since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing some 150 people and wounding around 400 others -- mostly civilians. No group has yet claimed that attack.

The Islamic State group has claimed most of the recent attacks in the Afghan capital, but authorities suspect that the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network has been involved in at least some of them.&nbsp;

The deadliest of the recent attacks happened at a Shiite cultural centre on December 29 when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing more than 40 people.

The attack began Saturday. 'Four attackers are inside the building,' an official at the National Directorate of Security spy agency said. They are 'shooting at guests'

Four heavily-armed gunmen raided Kabul`s landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday, shooting at guests and staff and setting the building on fire, officials said, in an hours-long assault that is still ongoing. Local television channel Tolo News is reporting that at least 15 people have been killed or wounded. Special forces were lowered by helicopters onto the roof of the luxury hilltop hotel during the siege, interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP, adding two attackers had been killed. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest assault in the war-torn Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners. We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us' × It is not clear how many people are still inside the hotel, which was previously attacked by Taliban militants in 2011, or whether any foreigners are among them. "Four attackers are inside the building," an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency told AFP at the beginning of the attack. They are "shooting at guests", he said. A guest hiding in a room told AFP he could hear gunfire inside the 1960s hotel where dozens of people attending an information technology conference on Sunday were staying. "I don`t know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor," the man, who did not want to be named, said by telephone. "We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us." His phone was switched off when AFP tried to contact him again. Also read: Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack 'by at least four gunmen' Rahimi said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they stormed the hotel, which is a popular venue for weddings, conferences and political gatherings. "Seven wounded people have been taken to hospital," Rahimi said. "Some other guests have been rescued. We will be able to release casualty figures once the operation ends." But several hours after the attack started Afghan security spokesmen switched off their mobile phones or refused to answer AFP`s calls for an update. Afghan media is reporting multiple casualties in the attack, which comes days after a UN Security Council delegation visited Kabul for a close-up view of the conflict. The fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid, the NDS official said.The last major attack on a high-end hotel in Kabul was in March 2014 when four teenage gunmen raided the Serena, killing nine people including an AFP journalist. The Intercontinental was targeted in June 2011 when a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban killed 21 people, including 10 civilians. Even before Saturday`s attack was over, authorities were questioning how the assailants got past the hotel`s security, which was taken over by a private company two weeks ago, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP. "They probably used a back door in the kitchen to enter," he said. Abdullah Sabet, an official at the communications and information technology ministry, said IT officials from around the country were staying at the hotel ahead of a conference on Sunday. "There were 40 of them in the hotel. We don`t know if any of them have been killed or wounded," Sabet said. Security at the Intercontinental, which is not part of the global InterContinental chain, is relatively lax compared with other luxury hotels in Kabul. A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held in one of its function rooms earlier Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy`s political counsellor Zhang Zhixin. An AFP reporter who attended the conference passed through two vehicle security checkpoints. At the entrance to the building, there was a physical inspection that could be easily evaded by scaling a low-level barrier and entering the lobby. Security alerts sent in recent days to foreigners living in the Afghan capital warned that "extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul" as well as public gatherings and other locations "where foreigners are known to congregate". US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said it was not known if any American citizens had been caught up in the attack. Security in Kabul has been tightened since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing some 150 people and wounding around 400 others -- mostly civilians. No group has yet claimed that attack. The Islamic State group has claimed most of the recent attacks in the Afghan capital, but authorities suspect that the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network has been involved in at least some of them. The deadliest of the recent attacks happened at a Shiite cultural centre on December 29 when a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing more than 40 people.

Attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel continues, several dead

Local media of Afghanistan has reported the arrest of five persons in connection with the January 21 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-five-dead-in-kabul-hotel-attack-afghan-spy-agency-30204">attack on the Intercontinental hotel in&nbsp;Kabul.</a>

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Breaking : Five persons arrested in connection with attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/intercontinentalhotel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#intercontinentalhotel</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>
&mdash; Pajhwok Afghan News (@pajhwok) <a href="https://twitter.com/pajhwok/status/957555713584390145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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At least four <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-under-attack-by-at-least-four-gunmen-30184">Taliban gunmen attacked Kabul&#39;s landmark Intercontinental Hotel </a>on Saturday and started shooting at guests, which went on for 12 hours.

The overnight attack killed at least 22 people, the majority of them were foreigners including citizens from Venezuela, the Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan and America.

About 100 people were kept hostage who later were released after the attack.

During the investigation after the attack, many<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-hotel-guests-describe-lax-security-before-deadly-attack-30537"> issues relating to security </a>came to the light.

A witness and a security source said that at least two of the gunmen were armed and inside the hotel before the attack began, and questions have been raised &mdash; including by the country&#39;s interior minister &mdash; over whether the militants had inside help.

Constantly under threat, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kabul-explosion-death-toll-increases-to-103-30982">Kabul also faced another deadly attack </a>on Saturday, in which 103 were killed and 235 were wounded.

An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years.

The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-explosion-the-perpetrators-of-these-dastardly-attacks-should-be-brought-to-justice-says-ministry-of-external-affairs-30922"> Ministry of External Affairs&nbsp;strongly condemned t</a>he&nbsp;suicide-bomb explosion on Saturday.&nbsp;

At least four Taliban gunmen attacked Kabul's landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday and started shooting at guests, which went on for 12-hours

Local media of Afghanistan has reported the arrest of five persons in connection with the January 21 attack on the Intercontinental hotel in Kabul. Breaking : Five persons arrested in connection with attack on #intercontinentalhotel in #Kabul.#Afghanistan — Pajhwok Afghan News (@pajhwok) January 28, 2018 × At least four Taliban gunmen attacked Kabul's landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday and started shooting at guests, which went on for 12 hours. The overnight attack killed at least 22 people, the majority of them were foreigners including citizens from Venezuela, the Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan and America. About 100 people were kept hostage who later were released after the attack. During the investigation after the attack, many issues relating to security came to the light. A witness and a security source said that at least two of the gunmen were armed and inside the hotel before the attack began, and questions have been raised — including by the country's interior minister — over whether the militants had inside help. Constantly under threat, Kabul also faced another deadly attack on Saturday, in which 103 were killed and 235 were wounded. An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. The Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the suicide-bomb explosion on Saturday.

Five arrested over Kabul Intercontinental hotel shooting

The United States has called on Pakistan to arrest or expel the Taliban insurgents from its soil.

This US reaction comes after a deadly attack at central Kabul`s Intercontinental Hotel claimed 18 lives.

However, a survivor of the hotel attack said the number of casualties was much higher than revealed by government sources.

According to a media&nbsp;report, White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders on Monday said, &quot;We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban`s leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations.&quot;

In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked the hotel in Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners,&quot; she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Afghanistan Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed that all the three terrorists, who attacked the Intercontinental Hotel here, have been eliminated after a 13-hour stand-off.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal took to Twitter to condemn the attack and rejected the allegations of involvement of Pakistani nationals in the attack. &quot;We reject the knee-jerk allegations by some Afghan circles to point the finger at Pakistan for the terrorist attack on intercontinental hotel in Kabul. There is a need for a credible investigation into the attack, including on reported security lapses,&quot; Faisal tweeted.

This US reaction comes after a deadly attack at central Kabul`s Intercontinental Hotel claimed 18 lives

The United States has called on Pakistan to arrest or expel the Taliban insurgents from its soil. This US reaction comes after a deadly attack at central Kabul`s Intercontinental Hotel claimed 18 lives. However, a survivor of the hotel attack said the number of casualties was much higher than revealed by government sources. According to a media report, White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders on Monday said, "We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban`s leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations." In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked the hotel in Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners," she added. Earlier on Sunday, Afghanistan Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed that all the three terrorists, who attacked the Intercontinental Hotel here, have been eliminated after a 13-hour stand-off. Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal took to Twitter to condemn the attack and rejected the allegations of involvement of Pakistani nationals in the attack. "We reject the knee-jerk allegations by some Afghan circles to point the finger at Pakistan for the terrorist attack on intercontinental hotel in Kabul. There is a need for a credible investigation into the attack, including on reported security lapses," Faisal tweeted.

US calls on Pakistan to arrest or expel Taliban from its soil

A woman staff member of&nbsp;the United Nations was abducted on Monday morning from the Khair Khana area of Kabul, Afghanistan.

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A staff member of United Nations &amp; her child kidnapped early Monday morning in Khair Khana in Kabul city. The woman had reportedly been on her way to drop her child off at school before heading to work when she was abducted: TOLOnews <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955324301170786304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to reports, the woman was on her way to drop her child off at school before leaving for work.

The child she was dropping off was also abducted with her.

Further details of the incident are awaited.

Meanwhile, on Saturday night, six civilians were killed and three injured in the Taliban attack at the Intercontinental hotel which was scheduled to host an IT conference on January 21.

According to reports, the woman was on her way to drop her child off at school before leaving for work

A woman staff member of the United Nations was abducted on Monday morning from the Khair Khana area of Kabul, Afghanistan. A staff member of United Nations & her child kidnapped early Monday morning in Khair Khana in Kabul city. The woman had reportedly been on her way to drop her child off at school before heading to work when she was abducted: TOLOnews #Afghanistan — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × According to reports, the woman was on her way to drop her child off at school before leaving for work. The child she was dropping off was also abducted with her. Further details of the incident are awaited. Meanwhile, on Saturday night, six civilians were killed and three injured in the Taliban attack at the Intercontinental hotel which was scheduled to host an IT conference on January 21.

Afghanistan: UN staff member abducted in Kabul

Explosions and heavy gunfire rocked Kabul&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel as Afghan Special Forces moved through each floor fighting surviving gunmen who attacked the hotel a day earlier, killing at least five people.

Security personnel waved Afghan flags on the rooftop of the hotel to signal they had cleared and secured the building, ending the siege which started on Saturday (January 20) night and lasted 13 hours.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which saw more than 150 guests flee. The raid came just days after a U.S. embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in Kabul.

Witnesses said the gunmen were dressed in army uniforms, but it was unclear how many were involved. The government said three gunmen were killed while witnesses said four were involved and the Taliban said five.

The Intercontinental Hotel, an imposing 1960s structure set on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in Kabul, was previously attacked by Taliban fighters in 2011. While it shares the same name, the hotel in Kabul is not part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which issued a statement in 2011 saying that &quot;the hotel Inter-continental in Kabul is not part of IHG and has not been since 1980&quot;.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which saw more than 150 guests flee.

Explosions and heavy gunfire rocked Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel as Afghan Special Forces moved through each floor fighting surviving gunmen who attacked the hotel a day earlier, killing at least five people. Security personnel waved Afghan flags on the rooftop of the hotel to signal they had cleared and secured the building, ending the siege which started on Saturday (January 20) night and lasted 13 hours. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which saw more than 150 guests flee. The raid came just days after a U.S. embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in Kabul. Witnesses said the gunmen were dressed in army uniforms, but it was unclear how many were involved. The government said three gunmen were killed while witnesses said four were involved and the Taliban said five. The Intercontinental Hotel, an imposing 1960s structure set on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in Kabul, was previously attacked by Taliban fighters in 2011. While it shares the same name, the hotel in Kabul is not part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which issued a statement in 2011 saying that "the hotel Inter-continental in Kabul is not part of IHG and has not been since 1980".

Gunfire and explosions rock Kabul hotel as siege draws to an end

At least four gunmen attacked Kabul&#39;s landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday and started shooting at guests, officials said, in an assault that is still under way.

&quot;Four attackers are inside the building,&quot; news agency AFP quoted an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency.

They are &quot;shooting at guests&quot;, he said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a long series of attacks to hit Kabul.

A guest hiding in a room told AFP he could hear gunfire inside the state-owned 1960s hotel.

&quot;I don&#39;t know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor,&quot; he said by telephone without giving his name.

&quot;We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us.&quot;

Some of the occupants inside the hotel are hiding on the second floor, a security source said.

Electricity was cut after an initial explosion at the hilltop hotel, a counterterrorism source said.

News agency Reuters spoke to hotel manager Ahmad Haris Nayab, who managed to escape unhurt. He said the attackers had managed to get inside and people were fleeing amid bursts of gunfire on all sides, but he could say nothing about any casualties.

Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said details of the raid, which came days after a US embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in the capital, were unclear, but the attackers appeared to have included suicide bombers.

Another official said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they blasted their way into the hotel, which often hosts weddings, conferences and political gatherings.

A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held at the hotel earlier on Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy&#39;s political counsellor Zhang Zhixin.

The hotel, located on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in the city, was previously attacked by Taliban fighters in 2011.

It is one of Kabul&#39;s two main luxury hotels and is used for events including conferences attended by government officials.

On Thursday, the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning to US citizens, saying &quot;We are aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul&quot;.

Although the NATO-led Resolute Support mission says the Taliban has come under pressure after the United States increased assistance to Afghan security forces and stepped up air strikes against the insurgents, security remains precarious.

As pressure on the battlefield has increased, security officials have warned that the danger of attacks on high profile targets in Kabul and other cities would increase.

While it shares the same name, the hotel in Kabul is not part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which issued a statement in 2011 saying that &quot;the hotel Inter-continental in Kabul is not part of IHG and has not been since 1980&quot;.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a long series of attacks to hit Afghanistan's capital.

At least four gunmen attacked Kabul's landmark Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday and started shooting at guests, officials said, in an assault that is still under way. "Four attackers are inside the building," news agency AFP quoted an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency. They are "shooting at guests", he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a long series of attacks to hit Kabul. A guest hiding in a room told AFP he could hear gunfire inside the state-owned 1960s hotel. "I don't know if the attackers are inside the hotel but I can hear gunfire from somewhere near the first floor," he said by telephone without giving his name. "We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us." Some of the occupants inside the hotel are hiding on the second floor, a security source said. Electricity was cut after an initial explosion at the hilltop hotel, a counterterrorism source said. News agency Reuters spoke to hotel manager Ahmad Haris Nayab, who managed to escape unhurt. He said the attackers had managed to get inside and people were fleeing amid bursts of gunfire on all sides, but he could say nothing about any casualties. Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said details of the raid, which came days after a US embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in the capital, were unclear, but the attackers appeared to have included suicide bombers. Another official said the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they blasted their way into the hotel, which often hosts weddings, conferences and political gatherings. A conference on Afghanistan-China relations was held at the hotel earlier on Saturday, attended by the Chinese embassy's political counsellor Zhang Zhixin. The hotel, located on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in the city, was previously attacked by Taliban fighters in 2011. It is one of Kabul's two main luxury hotels and is used for events including conferences attended by government officials. On Thursday, the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning to US citizens, saying "We are aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul". Although the NATO-led Resolute Support mission says the Taliban has come under pressure after the United States increased assistance to Afghan security forces and stepped up air strikes against the insurgents, security remains precarious. As pressure on the battlefield has increased, security officials have warned that the danger of attacks on high profile targets in Kabul and other cities would increase. While it shares the same name, the hotel in Kabul is not part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which issued a statement in 2011 saying that "the hotel Inter-continental in Kabul is not part of IHG and has not been since 1980".

Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack 'by at least four gunmen'

Since the early eighties, Afghanistan has been witnessing the worst crimes against the humanity. The country had been the battleground of the superpowers of the world and now facing extreme forms of violence and, as a result, the country is at the rock bottom of all the developmental indexes in the world. The human life is subjected to worst tortures, killings are common, and terror activities are a daily news in the mountain country.

&nbsp;

The US-backed and Pakistan-trained Mujahedeen groups fought with the Soviet forces and forced them to retreat. As a result, a large number of Afghan refugees moved into the areas across Durand Line and established themselves. Various Islamic sects of Pakistan, including Jamaat-e-Islami, took this opportunity to establish their madrasas or religious schools in these areas.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When Afghanistan was going through a process of destabilisation after the withdrawal of Soviet Troops, Pakistan needed to gain its influence over Afghanistan. For this purpose, it needed a force loyal to it and brutal enough to fight the mighty Northern Alliance of Afghanistan. The Madrasas proved to be an ideal recruiting ground for the Pakistan ISI and a new breed of terror was created -the Taliban.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Over next few years, these seminaries were converted into arms and bomb-making factories and terrorist training centres with the help of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

&nbsp;

The only one responsible for these crimes was the Pakistan government which turned these religious seminaries into terror factories. Later, these madrasas provided numerous cadres of Al-Qaeda and more than 1 lakh fighters to the Afghan Taliban. Not only this, they continued to provide terrorists and suicide bombers for the ongoing terror activities in Afghanistan, India and the Middle East.&nbsp; Many ISIS cadres also came out from some of these madrasas. These madrasas soon became an easy and effective training centre of Pakistan&#39;s ISI.

&nbsp;

The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is extremely porous and facilitates easy movement of even a large force across as there is no surveillance. Hence, this was a major advantage for Pakistan ISI to run madrasas in these areas.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

These terror factories are not run on mere donations of the public but receive massive funds from the Pakistan government as well as the Middle Eastern countries. A Times of India news report said, in 2016, Pakistan&#39;s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government gave Rs 300 million to one of the prominent madrasa, also known as the &#39;University of Jihad&#39;. The madrasa is known to have many Taliban leader among its alumni.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Not only this, it has been alleged that the agents of the Pakistan government often compel and even kidnap Afghan children to study in these madrasas so that they can be taught the most violent form of Islam and turned into a deadly fighter. As per a report published in the Deccan Chronicle (dated 31 Jul 2017), Afghan police caught an organised syndicate which used to traffic young boys to the madrasas across the border in Pakistan from interiors of Afghanistan. They recovered a large number of Afghan boys who were being taken to Pakistan to study in these madrasas against their own will. This proves that Pak support to these madrasas is not only limited to indoctrination but also providing them with manpower, military training, funds and other forms of logistical support.

&nbsp;

Today, there are over 15000 madrasas being run on Pak- Afghan border out of which more than 60% are in Baluchistan alone. The reason is obvious, the most important aspect of Taliban or their ideological hub which is called as Quetta Shura is located in the Baluchistan province itself. This is the group which is managing a large number of madrasas in the area. Surprisingly, nearly all of them are teaching either the Deobandi Philosophy of Islam or Salafi ideology, both are extremely violent and most radical forms of Islam.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As of now, nearly all attacks or violence in Afghanistan is traced back to one or the other madrasas in Pakistan. As per the statement made by the Afghan Ambassador in the US, Mr Majeed Qarar, the attack on Kabul&rsquo;s Intercontinental Hotel was also planned in one such madrasa in Pakistan. He quoted the video of the father of one of the suicide attackers who visited the madrasa many times to bring their son back but he was so badly brain-washed that he refused to come back with them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

There have been allegations substantiated by evidences that Pakistan had been providing equipment and weapons to terrorists in Afghanistan. During the recent attack on Maiwand Army Base of Afghanistan, the night vision goggles recovered from terrorists reveal the entire story. They were made by a company in Britain and procured by Pak Army for their military operations. Now, how they reached these terrorists, the question reveals the answer itself.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;In March 2016, Pak PM&rsquo;s advisor Mr Sartaz Ajeez himself accepted that &ldquo;These madrasas had well-oiled terror infrastructure, beyond imagination, running bomb-making factories, terrorists training centres and those to train suicide bombers - all under multi-storeyed basement under the mosque&rdquo; which proves the fact that these madrasas are really operating as terror factories.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He further mentioned that &quot;In one mosque that I visited, I remember, in Miranshah, from outside we did not see anything. But under the mosque, there were a 70-room basement, three stories, in which there were four-five IED factories, four-five suicide training centres, communication network, VIP room, conference rooms, amazing infrastructure,&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This is very horrifying, to say the least. The world is surprised to know how these terror factories are still able to run on Pakistani soil smoothly. Pakistan government may deny their association with them but, at last, they are openly operating on their land and making a mockery of their law. Moreover, the victims of these terror factories are only the poor and innocent Afghan population and not Pakistan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is the responsibility of the global leaders now to make an all-out effort&nbsp;and ensure that these terror factories are not only closed but their leaders and perpetrators of terror should be brought to justice.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today, there are over 15000 madrasas on Pak- Afghan border out of which more than 60% are in Baluchistan as the ideological hub of Taliban is in the province.

Since the early eighties, Afghanistan has been witnessing the worst crimes against the humanity. The country had been the battleground of the superpowers of the world and now facing extreme forms of violence and, as a result, the country is at the rock bottom of all the developmental indexes in the world. The human life is subjected to worst tortures, killings are common, and terror activities are a daily news in the mountain country. The US-backed and Pakistan-trained Mujahedeen groups fought with the Soviet forces and forced them to retreat. As a result, a large number of Afghan refugees moved into the areas across Durand Line and established themselves. Various Islamic sects of Pakistan, including Jamaat-e-Islami, took this opportunity to establish their madrasas or religious schools in these areas. When Afghanistan was going through a process of destabilisation after the withdrawal of Soviet Troops, Pakistan needed to gain its influence over Afghanistan. For this purpose, it needed a force loyal to it and brutal enough to fight the mighty Northern Alliance of Afghanistan. The Madrasas proved to be an ideal recruiting ground for the Pakistan ISI and a new breed of terror was created -the Taliban. Over next few years, these seminaries were converted into arms and bomb-making factories and terrorist training centres with the help of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The only one responsible for these crimes was the Pakistan government which turned these religious seminaries into terror factories. Later, these madrasas provided numerous cadres of Al-Qaeda and more than 1 lakh fighters to the Afghan Taliban. Not only this, they continued to provide terrorists and suicide bombers for the ongoing terror activities in Afghanistan, India and the Middle East. Many ISIS cadres also came out from some of these madrasas. These madrasas soon became an easy and effective training centre of Pakistan's ISI. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is extremely porous and facilitates easy movement of even a large force across as there is no surveillance. Hence, this was a major advantage for Pakistan ISI to run madrasas in these areas. These terror factories are not run on mere donations of the public but receive massive funds from the Pakistan government as well as the Middle Eastern countries. A Times of India news report said, in 2016, Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government gave Rs 300 million to one of the prominent madrasa, also known as the 'University of Jihad'. The madrasa is known to have many Taliban leader among its alumni. Not only this, it has been alleged that the agents of the Pakistan government often compel and even kidnap Afghan children to study in these madrasas so that they can be taught the most violent form of Islam and turned into a deadly fighter. As per a report published in the Deccan Chronicle (dated 31 Jul 2017), Afghan police caught an organised syndicate which used to traffic young boys to the madrasas across the border in Pakistan from interiors of Afghanistan. They recovered a large number of Afghan boys who were being taken to Pakistan to study in these madrasas against their own will. This proves that Pak support to these madrasas is not only limited to indoctrination but also providing them with manpower, military training, funds and other forms of logistical support. Today, there are over 15000 madrasas being run on Pak- Afghan border out of which more than 60% are in Baluchistan alone. The reason is obvious, the most important aspect of Taliban or their ideological hub which is called as Quetta Shura is located in the Baluchistan province itself. This is the group which is managing a large number of madrasas in the area. Surprisingly, nearly all of them are teaching either the Deobandi Philosophy of Islam or Salafi ideology, both are extremely violent and most radical forms of Islam. As of now, nearly all attacks or violence in Afghanistan is traced back to one or the other madrasas in Pakistan. As per the statement made by the Afghan Ambassador in the US, Mr Majeed Qarar, the attack on Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel was also planned in one such madrasa in Pakistan. He quoted the video of the father of one of the suicide attackers who visited the madrasa many times to bring their son back but he was so badly brain-washed that he refused to come back with them. There have been allegations substantiated by evidences that Pakistan had been providing equipment and weapons to terrorists in Afghanistan. During the recent attack on Maiwand Army Base of Afghanistan, the night vision goggles recovered from terrorists reveal the entire story. They were made by a company in Britain and procured by Pak Army for their military operations. Now, how they reached these terrorists, the question reveals the answer itself. In March 2016, Pak PM’s advisor Mr Sartaz Ajeez himself accepted that “These madrasas had well-oiled terror infrastructure, beyond imagination, running bomb-making factories, terrorists training centres and those to train suicide bombers - all under multi-storeyed basement under the mosque” which proves the fact that these madrasas are really operating as terror factories. He further mentioned that "In one mosque that I visited, I remember, in Miranshah, from outside we did not see anything. But under the mosque, there were a 70-room basement, three stories, in which there were four-five IED factories, four-five suicide training centres, communication network, VIP room, conference rooms, amazing infrastructure," This is very horrifying, to say the least. The world is surprised to know how these terror factories are still able to run on Pakistani soil smoothly. Pakistan government may deny their association with them but, at last, they are openly operating on their land and making a mockery of their law. Moreover, the victims of these terror factories are only the poor and innocent Afghan population and not Pakistan. It is the responsibility of the global leaders now to make an all-out effort and ensure that these terror factories are not only closed but their leaders and perpetrators of terror should be brought to justice. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Madrasas in Pakistan are serving as terror factories of Afghanistan

Majeed Qarar, the Afghan Diplomat to the US, alleges that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-arrested-over-kabul-intercontinental-hotel-shooting-30990">Kabul&#39;s Intercontinental hotel attack</a> was planned in a Madarasa in Pakistan.

Qarar released a video on his social handles which shows Abdul Qahar -- father of one of the suicide attackers.

In the video, Qahar -- an eyewitness of the incident -- shares details about his son&#39;s enrollment in a Pakistan-based Madrasa.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
A clear proof that the attack on Kabul&#39;s Inter (Con) Hotel was planned in a madrasa, on Pakistan&#39;s soil. Abdul Qahar, the father of one of the suicide attackers is an eyewitness of the story. Please watch the video: <a href="https://t.co/uGFdT4nZ7a">https://t.co/uGFdT4nZ7a</a>
&mdash; Majeed Qarar (@MajeedQarar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MajeedQarar/status/958022789138649088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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He noted that he &amp; his wife visited the son twice to bring him back, but he was not ready to go&nbsp;with them. Qahar also mentioned the militancy in Madrasa.&nbsp;

He admitted that he was informed about his son&#39;s death when he was called to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Majeed&nbsp;Qarar previously took to Twitter revealing that Pakistan army supplied equipment to attackers of the Afghan Military Academy.&nbsp;

&quot;The night vision goggles found with Taliban attackers in Maiwand&nbsp;ANA base were military grade goggles (Not sold to the public) procured by Pak army from a British company &amp; supplied 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir &amp; Taliban in Afghanistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba is an international terrorist org&quot;, Qarar tweeted yesterday.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The night vision goggles found with Taliban attackers in maiwand&#39;s ANA base were military grade goggles (Not sold to public) procured by Pak army from a British company &amp; supplied 2 Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in Kashmir &amp; Taliban in Afghanistn. Lashkar-e-Tayyeba is an int&#39;l terrorist org.
&mdash; Majeed Qarar (@MajeedQarar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MajeedQarar/status/957805793541345283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

At least four Taliban gunmen attacked Kabul&#39;s landmark Intercontinental Hotel on January 27 and started shooting at guests. The shooting went on for at least 12 hours.

The overnight attack killed at least 22 people, the majority of them were foreigners including citizens from Venezuela, the Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan and America.

About 100 people were kept hostage who were released after the attack.

The video shows Abdul Qahar, father of one of the suicide attackers

Majeed Qarar, the Afghan Diplomat to the US, alleges that Kabul's Intercontinental hotel attack was planned in a Madarasa in Pakistan. Qarar released a video on his social handles which shows Abdul Qahar -- father of one of the suicide attackers. In the video, Qahar -- an eyewitness of the incident -- shares details about his son's enrollment in a Pakistan-based Madrasa. A clear proof that the attack on Kabul's Inter (Con) Hotel was planned in a madrasa, on Pakistan's soil. Abdul Qahar, the father of one of the suicide attackers is an eyewitness of the story. Please watch the video: https://t.co/uGFdT4nZ7a — Majeed Qarar (@MajeedQarar) January 29, 2018 × He noted that he & his wife visited the son twice to bring him back, but he was not ready to go with them. Qahar also mentioned the militancy in Madrasa. He admitted that he was informed about his son's death when he was called to Pakistan. Majeed Qarar previously took to Twitter revealing that Pakistan army supplied equipment to attackers of the Afghan Military Academy. "The night vision goggles found with Taliban attackers in Maiwand ANA base were military grade goggles (Not sold to the public) procured by Pak army from a British company & supplied 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir & Taliban in Afghanistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba is an international terrorist org", Qarar tweeted yesterday. The night vision goggles found with Taliban attackers in maiwand's ANA base were military grade goggles (Not sold to public) procured by Pak army from a British company & supplied 2 Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in Kashmir & Taliban in Afghanistn. Lashkar-e-Tayyeba is an int'l terrorist org. — Majeed Qarar (@MajeedQarar) January 29, 2018 × At least four Taliban gunmen attacked Kabul's landmark Intercontinental Hotel on January 27 and started shooting at guests. The shooting went on for at least 12 hours. The overnight attack killed at least 22 people, the majority of them were foreigners including citizens from Venezuela, the Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan and America. About 100 people were kept hostage who were released after the attack.

Attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel was planned in Pakistan: Afghan envoy to US

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