Washington - Xinhua
U.S. Defense Department on Tuesday said an attack near U.S. Embassy and International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul earlier in the day will not stop security transition from foreign troops to Afghan forces. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said "the transition remains on track,...Our commitment to the people of Afghanistan and to building the capacity of the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police and other elements of the Afghan security forces remains steadfast." Insurgents attacked near the U.S. Embassy and ISAF headquarters at around 1:30 p.m. local time, firing from outside the compound using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, officials said. Afghan and coalition forces responded to the attack. Coalition forces are providing air support. Meanwhile, CIA Director David Petraeus offered an update on the attack in testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate intelligence committees, saying U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker reported that all embassy members were accounted for, and there have been no injuries to any embassy members. Four Afghan citizens were injured in the attack, he said, adding that one girl needed to go to the hospital in the ISAF compound.