Politic?

Fundamentally, Deadly Hostile

"We are shocked and appalled at the violence, carried out against our staff in Afghanistan who are dedicated humanitarians, committed to improving the lives and well-being of millions of children across the country."
"[Save the Children has been active since 1976 in Afghanistan] providing life-saving health, education, nutrition and child protection programs that have helped millions of children."
Carolyn Miles, president, Save the Children

An Afghan army soldier takes a position Wednesday near the Save the Children office in Jalalabad.CNN

Well, guess what! The Taliban don't much care. They do care that there are foreign elements in Afghanistan and they dedicate themselves to attacks against foreigners be they politicians or charitable humanitarian volunteers. They have never personally asked foreigners to enter their country and they take huge umbrage at their entry for whatever reasons for any purpose whatever. All the more so when arrogant non-Muslims enter the country in a charitable act of transforming it into what the Taliban will not permit.

And if the Taliban are not implicated in specific attacks, there are others who can and will be, from al-Qaeda operatives to Islamic State militias proud to 'protect' Afghanistan from the corrupting influence of foreign missions. This time it was the NGO Save the Children. A week ago it was foreign guests at an upscale hotel. That attack at the Kabul Intercontinental was spread out over a thirteen-hour period before Afghan security forces managed to dispatch the terrorists and rescue most of the hotel guests, absent the 22 who died.

This time the Jalalabad Save the Children attack left four dead, among them two NGO staffers, a security guard and a member of the Afghan military.These attacks are always well coordinated and this one was no exception, with a suicide bomber detonating his explosives vest at the NGO offices, and the siege was over in less than a day, counting the original eight hours of fighting followed by a two-hour re-ignition, leaving 26 wounded along with the four dead and four attackers killed by the military.

Islamic State, al-Qaeda, the Taliban; none of them mind the opportunities the presence of the hated interloper gives them to become martyrs; it is what Islam demands of its faithful and the reward in Paradise is passionately sought-after.

Afghan security forces inspect the site of the attack on Save the Children’s office in Jalalabad on Wednesday. Photograph: Noorullah Shirzada/AFP/Getty Images

"Humanitarian organizations provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable men, women and children in Afghanistan. Aid workers and their premises and assets, should never be a target", moaned UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as though unaware that his sentiments are pro forma redundant. "Increased violence has made operating in Afghanistan difficult for many organizations", added Monica Zanarelli, head of delegation in Afghanistan for the International Committee of the Rd Cross.

In fact, deadly attacks take place regularly all over Afghanistan. Mostly targeting the national police and the Afghan military. The Islamist jihadi groups do take especial care to make it known to any foreign elements in Afghanistan that they are not held in appreciative fond esteem but venomous contempt for their presence. A presence now in abeyance for fear of further violent attacks and loss of life among the humanitarian actors. A result which must be accorded a win for the jihadis proud of their mission and prepared to continue until the last man.

Unfortunately, there will never be a 'last man'. Every time one jihadi is put to rest, twice the number invariably rise to take his place. Their Islamist ardour is unquenchable, their dedication to eventual conquest unshakable but by one little victory after another, laying their winning sacrifices at the feet of a devouring god who will be appeased only with the wholesale conversion and surrender to Islam of the world's population by a conquering army of Islamist warriors.