The Taliban announced the start of an offensive against the government troops – mass-media

Almaty. April 13. Silkroadnews – On Tuesday the Taliban announced the beginning of their spring offensive against the Afghan government troops, the newspaper “Kommersant” informs.

The day before the Taliban representatives sent the Afghan mass-media a letter that announced the beginning of the traditional spring offensive against the government strongholds. The Islamists have promised “to build the qualitative management mechanisms to enable people to live a normal, safe life” on the territories they occupy. It was also pointed out that during the offensive, the Taliban “will try to avoid civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction and will hold a dialogue with their fellow citizens in the ranks of the enemy” to bring them on Taliban’s side. The offensive is named “Operation Omari”.

The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of fighting season after decline of military operations intensity in winter, yet the situation has changed now.

“There was no winter lull this year. Yet the Taliban are not able to reverse the situation in the country, while the Afghan intelligence services have already been injected with huge funds. Though the Taliban are able to repeat the attack similar to one they conducted on Kunduz city,” said the expert at the of the Carnegie Moscow Center Peter Topychkanov.

His opinion is also shared by the Russian special presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry’s second Asian department director Zamir Kabulov.

“Apparently, this year the Taliban makes it their task to significantly expand the control zone. They plan to capture few provinces and turn them into anti-government struggle area,” said Z. Kabulov.

The peace talks, which the world leaders urge the parties to the Afghan conflict to, do not bring the intended results. In mid-January of this year, a four-sided group of the United States, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan has tried to develop a reconciliation “road map”, yet the efforts got hampered when on March 5, 2016, the Taliban stated the cease-fire is not possible until the foreign forces withdraw themselves completely. To remind after the withdrawal of the major part of the NATO troops within the course of “Strong support” operation, 12 thousand troop contingent, mostly American, still remains in the country.

The parliamentarian is not that optimistic about further situation development, “this spring there will be a lot of battles. The Taliban try to seize the strategically important cities and provinces: Helmand, Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Kunduz, and others.” He also added, “the Afghan army needs weapons, particularly helicopters.”

“The arms deliveries issues have repeatedly been discussed with the government of Afghanistan. We have delivered the small arms for free, and are ready to provide the other types on a commercial basis. The Afghan president intended to find funds, but has not found so far,” said Zamir Kabulov.