Taliban declares open season on politicians

In Afghanistan, the Taliban said it was behind coordinated attacks today in the south that began with three suicide bombings outside a government compound, and ended with a long gun battle in a market. At least 22 people were killed. There has been a surge of violence in Afghanistan - and increasingly the targets are politicians. Seth Doane reports from Kabul:

It was two years ago when Fawzia Koofi wrote this troubling message to her daughters: "Maybe today is the day that I will die ..."

Her now-published "Farewell Letter" was written because, as an outspoken Member of Parliament in Afghanistan, Koofi is a target of the Taliban:

"Right now I think the terrorist acts, I think, are the biggest threat - for me, and for others," she said. "For me, more, because I talk against them."

Her father, also in Parliament, was assassinated - as were three of her brothers.

"You're willing to die for your job, for this country?" asked CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

"We will all die one day," she replied. "I think the pride will be if you die with paving the way for others, with leaving something behind. If I'm afraid that I will die and I don't do anything, then who will take this country?"

Targeted killings in Afghanistan are up more than 100% since 2009, according to the United Nations.

"We cannot say that anyone is safe in this country," said Haroun Mir, who runs the Afghanistan Center for Research and Policy Studies.

"The Taliban have decided not to face U.S. military," Mir told Doane. "Instead, they have focused on terrorist attacks on civilians and on Afghan government institutions."

In two recent suicide attacks - the Taliban unleashed a surprising new weapon that allowed them to get past police and security: bombs hidden in turbans.

There are checkpoints all across Kabul. It's common to pull people out of vehicles, to frisk them, to search the vehicles themselves, but it's incredibly uncommon to search under a turban. To remove a turban in public would be considered an insult.

An explosive-laden turban killed Kandahar's mayor yesterday; and just last week Koofi herself was invited to a gathering where two people were killed.

Doane asked her, "Have you changed any way that you go about life because of these threats?"

"I did, a little bit," replied Koofi (left). "But when it comes to assassination and planned killing, nothing can protect you."

Guards stand by her front gate, and she admits sometimes she even travels disguised in a burka.

"I know what I'm doing can make a difference for my future and for my daughters' future, and for other women and children in this country," Koofi said. "Then, it's worth sacrificing our life."

A sacrifice that's become disturbingly familiar here.

For more info:

• "Letters to My Daughters" by Fawzia Koofi (Douglas & McIntyre)
• fawziakoofi.org