Holbrooke in Kabul to revise strategy

KABUL, Afghanistan - The new U.S. regional envoy landed in Afghanistan yesterday to help chart President Obama's strategy for peace in this volatile country, a day after a bold Taliban assault demonstrated the insurgency's ability to wreak havoc even in the tightly guarded capital.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman confirmed Richard Holbrooke's arrival but declined to give details on his schedule for his multiday visit.

Holbrooke's first visit to the country comes amid an increasing sense that the security situation is disintegrating in and around Kabul.

On Wednesday, Taliban fighters launched one of their most audacious attacks on the capital, killing 20 people in a coordinated assault on three government buildings. Eight attackers also died.

Government officials said the mastermind behind the attacks was in Pakistan, a reminder of the cross-border violence and disputes that have made the battle against the Taliban so difficult.

One of Holbrooke's roles as special envoy to both countries is to help the administration design a strategy to combat the Taliban regionally.

Under rain and snow, troops with machine guns swarmed street intersections in Kabul yesterday, checking drivers' papers and searching cars.

In Wednesday's attack, Taliban fighters with guns, grenades, and suicide vests stormed barricades at the Justice Ministry in the heart of Kabul and a corrections department building to the north.

The Taliban claimed responsibility soon after the assault began.

The attack is a reminder of challenges facing Obama as he increases America's focus - and troop levels - in Afghanistan. The new administration has promised up to 30,000 more troops.

Amrullah Saleh, the head of Afghanistan's intelligence service, said the attackers sent text messages to an extremist leader in Pakistan.

Afghanistan has accused extremists based in Pakistan's tribal areas or Pakistan's spy service of being behind several major attacks in Kabul, including the bombing of the Indian Embassy in July, an assassination attempt against President Hamid Karzai in April, and an assault on the luxury Serena Hotel in January 2008.

In Washington yesterday, a Pentagon official said a team of investigators would travel to Afghanistan next month to determine whether the United States was doing enough to train and equip local security forces.

The Pentagon Inspector General's Office also plans by April to expand its staff permanently stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar, said Thomas Gimble, the IG's principal deputy, in congressional testimony.

The March trip to Afghanistan has long been in the works and is not in response to this week's attack, according to an IG spokesman.

The team also will be following up on an October assessment that the Pentagon is struggling to keep track of weapons given to Afghan forces.