On Monday, Taliban fighters launched a major co-ordinated assault on government ministries and other buildings.

At least five people were killed and 71 others wounded in the co-ordinated attacks.

The men managed to avoid security checkpoints, and attack areas close to the presidential palace.

The fact that the Taliban could stage an assault on this scale has raised serious concerns about the ability of the government and the multi-national forces supporting it.

What message does it send to Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, his government and foreign forces in the country? Is the Obama vision for Afghanistan realistic?

Inside Story discusses with guests Daoud Sultanzoy, a member of parliament, chairman of the Afghan business caucas and chairman of economic committee, Zemarai Bashary, the Afghan interior ministry spokesman, and Malou Innocent, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Tuesday, January 19, 2010.