Afghan Taliban declares the start of spring offensive, in 15th year of war

The Taliban announced the start of their warm-weather fighting season on Tuesday, vowing “large-scale attacks” in the 15th year of their war against the US-backed Afghan government.

In an email to media, the militants said the spring offensive had begun at 5am. It dubbed the campaign “Operation Omari” in honour of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, who died three years ago. The statement said waging jihad against American invaders is a holy obligation.

It said this year’s campaign will incorporate suicide attacks, assassinations, and other tactics aimed at undermining the enemy’s morale.

The Taliban added that in areas under their control, “mechanisms for good governance will be established so that our people can live a life of security and normalcy.” The insurgents control several rural districts and last year seized the northern city of Kunduz and held it for three days.

The Taliban said they would try to avoid killing civilians or destroying civilian infrastructure, and would carry out a “dialogue with our countrymen in the enemy ranks” to try to convince them to join the insurgency.

More than 11,000 civilians were killed or wounded in 2015, according to the UN.