Suicide bombings increasing in Afghanistan, U.N. says

A United Nations report released Sunday claimed that suicide bombings are escalating in Afghanistan and are often carried out by men trained in Pakistani religious schools, according to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, citing Agence France Presse.

Since 2006, suicide attacks have become more popular political statements for the Taliban and other Islamist anti-government groups. According to the article: “Twice as many suicide attacks occurred in the first six months of 2007 as in 2006, and 26 times as many incidents as in 2005.”

A U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan study states that the motivations behind these attacks are varied. Some are fueled by anger against the presence of international forces in the country, some by religious zeal, and others by the social and material perks of martyrdom.

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