By Sohel Uddin, Duncan Golestani & Andrew Rafferty, NBC News, June 25, 2013

Explosions and gunfire rocked some of the most heavily guarded areas of the Afghan capital early Tuesday during a Taliban attack on the presidential palace and a Central Intelligence Agency building.  The Taliban say they used suicide bombers and small arms during the assault in Kabul, which lasted about 40 minutes.

Reporters were gathered at the palace awaiting a news conference with President Hamid Karzai when insurgents began their assault on the building's east gate [.....]

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Taliban Strike Near Palace Inside Kabul
By Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times, June 24/25, 2013

KABUL, Afghanistan — At least three suicide bombers launched a sophisticated attack on the heart of the Afghan government early Tuesday morning, using at least two land cruisers similar to those used by international soldiers here, fake badges and vehicle passes, which allowed at least one to get inside the heavily guarded area, according to Kabul’s deputy police chief.

The Taliban sent a statement taking responsibility for the attack and saying the targets were the Ariana Hotel, which they said is the C.I.A. base in Kabul, and the presidential palace.  The attack came just days after the Taliban opened an office in Doha, ostensibly for starting negotiations about a peace process. It raised questions anew about divisions within the Taliban and whether there is any broad commitment to peace [....]