An 18-hour insurgent attack on Kabul achieved "no tactical gains" and was largely symbolic, US Defense Secretary
Leon Panetta said Monday, praising the response of Afghan security forces.

"There were no tactical gains here. These are isolated attacks that are  done for symbolic purposes," Panetta told a news conference. 

He said "the Afghan army and police did a great job of reacting to these attacks.

"They quickly restored order, they quickly restored security in those areas."