Updated on
Summary
Tightened security measures were in force in Khost after a suicide bomber penetrated a foreign army base in Afghanistan and killed eight CIA employees.The Wednesday attack was one of the US agency's largest death tolls and was one of the most ambitious of the war.Experts said it highlighted the insurgency's reach and coordination at a time when violence has reached its highest levels since the overthrow of the Taliban regime by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001. Afghan police manned roadblocks around Khost, searching vehicles and their occupants.A taxi driver, Amir Jan, complained after being searched at several checkpoints, while policeman Gullub Shah said the searches were necessary to prevent further attacks. US officials said the dead Americans were CIA employees. Some people were also wounded in the explosion, defence officials said, but no US or NATO troops were among them. The CIA has been expanding its presence in the country. The agency's role hunting terrorism suspects in Afghanistan has been criticised by both Afghans and human rights groups.
