April 2012 Afghanistan attacks The April 2012 Afghanistan attacks took place on Sunday , 15 April 2012 , at around 13 : 00 local time ( 08 : 30 UTC ) when heavily armed Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers launched multiple coordinated attacks throughout Afghanistan . Insurgents launched the 2012 spring offensive on multiple locations , including government buildings , military bases , and embassies . Attacks occurred in four Afghan provinces , including Kabul and Paktia . Different reports attribute responsibility for the attacks to either Taliban or the Haqqani network although the Taliban have claimed responsibility . Background . Between 1996 and 2001 , the Taliban controlled large portions of Afghanistan following their emergence as a power bloc in 1992 . The majority of Taliban political control centered on Kandahar , although the executive government remained based in the capital , Kabul . During the early parts of the war in Afghanistan , the International Security Assistance Force established a presence in Afghanistan , predominantly around Kabul . Following a period of stabilization in Afghanistan , attacks started to increase with a growth in suicide bombings since 2006 . In 2007 , the number of Afghan civilian deaths stood at more than 230 . In 2008 , there were about 1 , 000 civilian deaths attributed to the Taliban . In 2011 , the number of civilians killed rose 8 % from 2010 , with over 3 , 000 civilian deaths . The vast majority of the casualties were due to activities by insurgents . According to the Associated Press , there are around 25 , 000 Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan in 2012 . Insurgent activities follow an annual pattern with members of the various insurgent groups migrating out of Afghanistan in the winter months . The Spring Offensive is the yearly increase in offensive activity , related to the improving weather , which increases the insurgent groups ' ability to maneuver around the country . Attacks . In the capital of Kabul , many foreign embassies are located in the so - called " Say Wallah " of the capital . Since NATO took control of the ISAF in 2003 , their headquarters is also in the Green Zone . Major General Carsten Jacobson , the spokesperson for the International Security Assistance Force , said that militants attacked the United States , German , and British embassies in Kabul . The Iranian embassy was also attacked , as was the newly built Kabul Star hotel . The governor of Laghman Province , Lutfullah Mashal , said that men plotted to kill Karim Khalili , the second Vice President of Afghanistan . Within hours , Afghan security forces captured or killed almost all of the militants . It was reported that British and Norwegian Special Forces were crucial in clearing Taliban militants from a central location overlooking foreign embassies by scaling the building and surprising the attackers in Kabul on Monday morning . Throughout the offensive on the embassies and government buildings in Kabul , members of the Afghan military , Afghan National Police , and National Directorate of Security repelled attacks from the Taliban , including suicide bombers . During early Monday morning , NATO helicopters searched for militants hiding in buildings near the ISAF headquarters and multiple embassies . The attack on Kabul lasted 18 hours . At the end of the siege on Kabul , almost 40 militants and eight Afghan soldiers were killed . In addition , four civilians were killed and 25 were injured across the country . The Taliban militants reportedly wore suicide vests and carried both rocket - propelled and hand grenades . A lone suspected attacker captured by Afghan forces reportedly confessed Taliban assailants who waged the co - ordinated attacks across Afghanistan were part of a 200 - member suicide squad trained in Pakistan . According to Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid , the attacks were " well - coordinated and planned for almost two months " . Aftermath . General John R . Allen , the commander of the International Security Assistance Force , praised the Afghan military ' s ability to repel the Taliban attacks , saying " They [ Afghan security forces ] were on scene immediately , well - led and well - coordinated . " President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai applauded the actions by Afghan security forces . He told CNN that " the Afghan forces will be able to defend their country as they demonstrated yesterday " . However , Karzai said that the attacks were a result of an " intelligence failure for us [ Afghanistan ] and especially NATO " and called for an investigation . Bismillah Khan Mohammadi , the Interior Minster of Afghanistan , said the attackers belonged to the Haqqani Network , an insurgency group based in Afghanistan and Pakistan . A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Iran , Ramin Mehmanparast , denounced the attacks , saying " “ The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the recent terrorist attacks in the capital and certain other provinces of Afghanistan , particularly the attacks on diplomatic centers based in Kabul , and believes that dialogue is the only solution to Afghanistan ’ s security problems . ” The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar condemned the attacks in Afghanistan in a joint statement . The Pakistani Foreign Minister also called the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul to express her condolences . Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard said that Australian forces in Afghanistan will be returning home in the upcoming months , with most troops coming home at the end of 2013 . On Tuesday , 17 April , Karzai said the Taliban attacks " prolong foreign presence in Afghanistan " .