Taliban militants storm hotel in northwestern Afghanistan, kill at least 8 people

According to Interior Ministry’s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi, several Taliban militants assaulted a commercial building housing a hotel in Chawk-e-Pesta neighborhood in the provincial capital of Qala-e-Naw at around 12:40 pm local time on Saturday.
 
Afghanistan’s Tolo News TV further quoted him as saying that the militants began firing indiscriminately at people after entering the hotel, killing eight security officials and ten others, seven of whom were security forces.
 
Rahimi added that three assailants were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, and two others were arrested. The hotel siege ended after almost five hours, he added.
 
Taliban has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the hotel, which is located near the police headquarters and the governor's house.
 
Abdul Latif Rustayee, the director of a hospital in Qala-e-Naw, said the wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital.
 
The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan under the guise of the war on terror. While the invasion ousted a regime of the Taliban, it failed to eliminate them. Some 18 years on, Washington is seeking truce with the militants as the Taliban has only boosted its campaign of violence across the country.
 
Washington is currently engaged in direct talks with the militants, excluding the Kabul government. The peace efforts have not, however, stopped Taliban from launching attacks.
 
In April, the Taliban announced the beginning of its spring offensive in Afghanistan despite involvement in the peace talks with the US.