Taliban announce spring offensive, vow to build institutions
ISLAMABAD — The Afghan Taliban announced the beginning of their spring offensive on Friday, promising to build their political base in the country while focusing military assaults on the international coalition and Afghan security forces.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced the launch of the offensive in an emailed statement that boasted of Taliban control over more than half of the country, referring to a February report issued by Washington’s special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction.
That report said the Afghan government had control or influence over only 52 per cent of Afghanistan’s 407 districts last year, down from 63.4 per cent previously.
The Taliban dubbed this year’s offensive “Operation Mansouri,” named for the Taliban leader killed last year in a U.S. drone strike.