'All Taliban militants killed for launching several co-ordinated attacks on Kabul'

Kabul, Apr 16(ANI): All Taliban militants, who launched co-ordinated weekend attacks on Kabul have been killed.

Pakistan Interior Ministry spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi said the attackers' last two strongholds, in the diplomatic enclave and near the parliament, had been cleared.

"All attackers are dead, the fighting is over," The News quoted Sediqqi, as saying.

Kabul was hit by several attacks in three areas, including embassies and foreign military bases in what Taliban insurgents said was the start of their spring offensive.

Outside the capital, militants attacked government buildings in Logar Province, the airport in Jalalabad and a police facility in the town of Gardez in Paktya Province, where a NATO helicopter was reportedly deployed against them.

The attacks raise fears regarding the security situation in Afghanistan, as NATO prepares to withdraw its 130,000 troops by the end of 2014 and hand over responsibility for security to the Afghan forces.

But US Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the ability of Afghan security forces to counter the attacks was a "clear sign of progress". (ANI)