Global General

Afghan Taliban resort to massive offensives

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-12 09:29

KABUL - Taliban militants in a new tactic to exert pressure on Afghan government and challenge the Afghan and NATO-led troops have initiated massive attacks since early this month.

Although the militants have been largely relying on suicide attacks, roadside bombings and hit-and-run tactics over the past few years, have conducted few massive offensive since weekend.

In the latest such attacks against government interests, over 400 fighters stormed Wama district in the mountainous Nuristan province along the border with Pakistan tribal areas on Tuesday but police repulsed it after severe fighting.

"Some 400 Taliban rebels attacked Wama district Tuesday morning but police retaliated and forced the insurgents to flee,"Shams Rahman Zahid the police chief of Nuristan province told Xinhua.

In the gunbattle erupted at 10:00 am local time (0530 GMT) and over at 01:00 pm local time (0830 GMT) three police sustained injuries, he said.

He also asserted that four Taliban fighters had been killed and 10 others sustained injuries in the heavy fighting lasted for three hours.

On the other hand, Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in talks with media via telephone from unknown location confirmed the incident, saying two Taliban fighters were injured. Mujahid also stressed that four policemen were killed and six others sustained injuries.

This is the second massive attack carried out by Taliban against government interests since weekend.

In the previous attack launched against government departments in the southern Kandahar province on Saturday and lasted for 27 hours during which, according to officials more than 60 people had been killed or wounded.

In the multiple attacks for which Taliban claimed responsibility several key government offices including provincial Governor House, Municipality and intelligence department came under offensive.

"Twenty three suicide bombers had been killed and four others made captive by security forces after militants' attacks in Kandahar on Saturday," Interior Ministry spokesman Zamarai Bashari confirmed in talks with newsmen.

He also added that two security personnel were killed and 15 civilians and 25 security personnel were injured in the gun battle lasted for few hours.

Qari Yusuf Ahmadi who claims to speak for Taliban outfit in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location said that several armed fighters including suicide bombers entered some government buildings and left 116 security personnel and government service members dead and injured, while the claim was rejected by Afghan government officials as baseless.

Taliban militants who announced spring offensive from May 1, according to Atta Mohammad Noor, the governor of northern Balkh province, had planned to kick off Kandahar-like large-scale attack, but security organs after seizing 80 pieces of weapons and arresting three insurgents Sunday night thwarted the offensive.