Afghan policemen take position at the site of an attack in Kabul April 15, 2012. Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials said. Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the assault, one of the boldest on the capital since U.S.-backed Afghan forces removed the group from power in 2001.Reuters 
An armed Afghan police officer runs to take his position after gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul April 15, 2012. Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying their main targets were the German and British embassies and the headquarters of Afghanistan's NATO-led force. Taliban fighers had also launched assaults in two provinces, a spokesman for the insurgents said.REUTERS/Omar Sobhan 
An Afghan policeman takes position at the site of an attack in Kabul.Reuters 
An Afghan National Army soldier keeps watch near the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) as a NATO helicopter flies over the site of an attack in Jalalabad province April 15, 2012. Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials saidReuters/Parwiz Parwiz 
Afghan policemen take position at the site of an attack in Kabul April 15, 2012. Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials said.Reuters/Omar Sobhani 
Soldiers from the Afghan National Army keep watch near the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) as smoke rises from the site of an attack in Jalalabad province on 15 April 2012Reuters 
Afghan policemen inspect the dead body of a suicide attacker in Kabul April 16, 2012. Heavy Street fighting between militants and security forces in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul ended on Monday after 18 hours of intense gunfire, rocket attacks and explosions, police and government officials said.Reuters 
Afghan policemen stand around the wreckage of a car used by a suicide attacker in Kabul April 16, 2012. Heavy street fighting between militants and security forces in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul ended on Monday after 18 hours of intense gunfire, rocket attacks and explosions, police and government officials said.Reuters 
An explosion is seen at a construction site during a battle between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents including suicide bombers in Kabul April 16, 2012.Reuters 
Afghan National Army soldiers arrive at the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) after gunmen launched a coordinated attack in Jalalabad province April 15, 2012.Reuters 
Afghan men stand around the wreckage of a car used by a suicide attacker in Jalalabad province April 15, 2012.Reuters 
Sparks from a fire caused by an explosion are seen at a construction site during a battle between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents including suicide bombers in Kabul April 16, 2012.Reuters
The fierce gun battle between Taliban militants and security forces in different parts of Afghanistan and in the capital city of Kabul ended on Monday. Thirty two insurgents were killed in the gun battle while 10 soldiers and eight policemen lost their lives fighting the terrorists, it has been reported.
"In only a short time we managed to cut short their devilish plans and all 32 insurgents were killed. They carried suicide vests, but managed to do nothing except be killed," Reuters quoted Defence Ministry Chief of Operations Afzal Aman as saying.
Taliban on Sunday afternoon launched multiple attacks in different parts of Kabul and in other provinces. The UK and German embassies came under militant attack. The parliament was also attacked.
NATO helicopters attacked militants hiding around the International Security Assistance Force headquarters, NATO headquarters and several embassies.
Video of Kabul Post-Taliban Attack.
DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE ATTACK
While the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, some officials were of the opinion that Haqqanis militants, a network of ethnic Pashtun tribal militants allied with the Taliban, who live along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, were involved in the attack.
Stating that the terrorists tried to harm the process of transferring security to the Afghan forces, Interior Minister Besmillah Mohammadi told newspersons that "it was the Haqqani network that launched the attack." He said one militant was arrested.
The news was again confirmed by US ambassador Ryan Crocker. "My guess, based on previous experience here, is this is a set of Haqqani network operations out of North Waziristan and the Pakistani tribal areas," he said.
However, apart from the Taliban, no other groups have claimed responsible for the attack.
Check out the slideshow here to see the photos of the gun battle in Afghanistan here.
