Taliban Launches Anti-Government ’Spring Offensive’
Local Editor
The Taliban extremist group said it has launched its annual spring military offensive in Afghanistan, titled "Omari Operation."
In a statement sent to reporters Tuesday, the insurgent group promised "large scale attacks on enemy positions, martyrdom-seeking [suicide] and tactical attacks against enemy strongholds and assassination of enemy commanders in urban centers."
"With the advent of spring it is again time for us to renew our determination and operations," the insurgent group said.
Relatively, the Taliban inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan security forces during the 2015 fighting season, killing nearly 6,000 personnel, including soldiers and police, while another 14,000 were wounded. The militant group also captured more territory than at any point since it was ousted from power in 2001 for harboring al-Qaeda.
The US-led military coalition ended its combat mission in 2014, leaving behind some 13,000-troops, mostly Americans.
Afghan leaders blame the withdrawal of international forces for the battlefield and other losses but have vowed to evict Taliban insurgents from areas they now control and keep them from making advances this year.
The US, China and neighboring Pakistan all joined hands with Afghanistan to try to arrange peace talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government in early March to prevent the insurgents from launching the spring offensive.
However, the Taliban refused to attend and there are fears this year's fighting could see more bloodshed in the war-ravaged country.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
