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Published November 18, 2014

As of Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, at least 2,208 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

The AP count is three less than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT.

At least 1,828 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 136 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 11 were the result of hostile action.

The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is five more than the department's tally.

The Defense Department also counts four military civilian deaths.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 20,040 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department.

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The latest identification reported by the military:

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At least 2,208 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001

A Taliban attack in Afghanistans fortified capital Tuesday triggered fresh concerns about the ability of U.S.-trained Afghan security forces to secure Kabul as international combat troops withdraw from the war-torn nation.

A small truck laden with explosives rammed the gate of a compound housing foreigners on Kabuls eastern outskirts, Afghan officials said. Two gunmen then tried to enter the breached gate. Four people, including two Afghan security guards, were killed in the attack, and no NATO forces were slain or wounded.

The assault was the latest in stepped-up bombings in the capital. Over the past week, suicide bombers have targeted the chief of police and a female lawmaker, both of whom survived.

SEE ALSO: Air Force fires controller who called in friendly fire airstrike in Afghanistan

Before Tuesdays attack, analysts had suggested that the Taliban is set to exploit weaknesses in Afghanistans security forces as U.S. and NATO troops dwindle to about 12,000 over the next two years.

Thomas Joscelyn, a security analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Taliban is actually in pretty good shape to make a stunning comeback after the West leaves, despite more than a decade of U.S.-led warfare.

U.S. intelligence officials have long warned of senior al Qaeda operatives fleeing into Afghanistan to avoid U.S. drone strikes on hideouts in Pakistan.

PHOTOS: Top 10 U.S. military helicopters

But analysts say a more disturbing development centers on behind-the-scenes assistance the Taliban has received from Pakistan as well as from the Haqqani network, whose terrorists move easily across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Theyve already been providing broad support for the Taliban, even with the U.S. there, said Mr. Joscelyn, senior editor of the Long War Journal.With the U.S. drawing out of the region, thats only going to increase.

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Doubts about Afghanistan's military on rise

File photo of Afghan cricketers with the World Cup trophy when it toured their country. Afghanistan is trying to strengthen bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan.

Karachi: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is willing to send its national team to Pakistan to play One-Day Internationals (ODI) with the hope of reviving international cricket in the country, chief executive Noor Muhammad Murad said on Tuesday.

Murad went to Pakistan on a short trip recently with the hope of strengthening bilateral cricketing ties between both the countries. He later termed his trip "fruitful" after meeting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Sheharyar Khan. (Also read: Afghanistan cricketers set sights on World Cup 2015)

"Our focus and request was basically to play ODI matches with Pakistan. The Afghanistan board is ready to send the national team to various cities of Pakistan to help the revival of international cricket in the neighboring country (Pakistan)," he was quoted as saying by The Dawn newspaper.

Murad visited Pakistan along with the Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and held talks with top PCB officials before witnessing a friendly macth between Pakistan A and Afghanistan A in Islamabad Saturday.

Noor further said that the infrastructure in Afghanistan was still short of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) prerequisites. So they are willing to host Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) if a bilateral agreement is reached between the two boards.

"Considering the ICC regulations, we can also host them (Pakistan) in the UAE, that was the main focal point of the discussion", the Afghan official said.

"Initially he (the PCB chairman) showed his keenness to develop this kind of co-operation but we are still waiting for the implementation plan", he concluded.

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Afghanistan Keen To Play International Cricket in Pakistan

Published November 17, 2014

Oct. 21, 2014: Afghan National Army soldiers inspect the site of a road side bomb explosion(AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan A Taliban suicide bomber and two gunmen targeted a foreigners' compound in Kabul early on Tuesday, killing four people in the latest fatal blast to hit the Afghan capital.

The attack started with a small, explosives-laden truck ramming the gate of the compound housing foreigners on the city's eastern outskirts soon after sunrise, said Interior Ministry spokesman Seqid Sediqqi.

Once the gate was destroyed, the gunmen attempted to break into the compound, said Sediqqi's deputy, Najib Danesh.

Two Afghan security guards were among the four people killed, said the ministry. Three civilians were also wounded in the attack.

The area has several compounds housing foreign contracting and service companies, as well as international military bases, so the precise target was not immediately clear. The Afghan government's intelligence agency also has a branch nearby.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force said that none of its personnel were hurt in the attack.

Afghan First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum visited the blast site, along with members of the Afghan army's rapid reaction force. Dostum said the bombing "is the work of intelligence services" acting in collusion with the attackers.

There has been speculation over recent high-profile attacks in Kabul that insurgent groups have infiltrated security and intelligence agencies to get access to sites inside the heavily-guarded capital.

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At least 4 dead in Afghanistan suicide attack

Red Cross mission in Afghanistan comes to a close Veterans Day 2014
The onsite Red Cross support for Operation Enduring Freedom that started 13 years ago has now come to a close. We began our in-country operations at Camp Str...

By: AmRedCross

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Red Cross mission in Afghanistan comes to a close Veterans Day 2014 - Video