Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/afghan-confidence-in-government-undermined-by-fresh-attacks Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio Shia teenagers were killed by a suicide bomber at an education center in Kabul on Wednesday. Meanwhile, residents of the city of Ghazni began to pick up the pieces after a five-day siege between the Taliban and the Afghan Army. Nick Schifrin discusses the attacks and Taliban tactics with Sultan Faizy, Kabul bureau chief for IHA Network, and former Defense Department official David Sedney. Read the Full Transcript David Sedney: Well, it's one of the things where the military success doesn't necessarily equal a political success. But, militarily, the Afghan army proved again, as it has repeatedly over the four years since the U.S. pulled most of our combat forces out, that they can take on and defeat the Taliban anytime there's a head-to-head military confrontation.But the cost that that military confrontation exacts in civilian lives and disruption undermines the credibility of the government, undermines people's confidence in the government, and that in many ways is the purpose of the attacks. While the Taliban would love to take the city and hold it permanently, even if they can't, this kind of attack advances their political objectives which is especially important in the potential run-up to peace talks. Nick Schifrin: I want to talk about the peace talks but, Sultan, I want to come back to you for one question. How do people in Afghanistan respond to the increase number of attacks that were seen lately from the Taliban across the country? Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Aug 15, 2018