The latest violence comes after the Obama administration announced it would accord special ally status to Afghanistan. The symbolic move places Afghanistan in the same category as non-NATO U.S. allies in Asia and the Middle East, including Israel, Japan and Pakistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the measure on the eve of a donors conference for Afghanistan in Tokyo.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “I am pleased to announce today that President Obama has officially designated Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. We see this as a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan’s future.”