KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Taleban militants vowed on Tuesday to intensify their insurgency with fresh attacks and suicide bombings, saying they would shortly take control of southern Afghanistan. “During these operations which will begin today or tomorrow, we’ll take most of the districts in southern and south-central Afghanistan,” purported Taleban spokesman Mohammad Hanif told AFP. | Since we've been invited to attend, I think it's only polite to take them up on it. |
The threat came as the Afghan government confirmed that the rebels had forced government forces out of at least one district in the troubled southern province of Helmand late Monday. The new offensive would include “lots” of suicide bombings, roadside explosions and hit-and-run attacks on government and coalition targets, Hanif said. “We will increase our attacks. We will carry out lots of suicide attacks, we will carry out bombings and we will engage the infidel troops in guerrilla battles,” the spokesman said by telephone from an unknown location. | Likely a safe house in Pakistan |
Taleban spokesman often call the media to issue statements, often about clashes with security forces in which their versions can differ wildly from those issued by the security forces. The coalition would not immediately respond to the latest threat.
The Taleban has been waging a growing insurgency since being toppled from government in 2001 by a US-led coalition. This year the rebels -- believed to have support from other Islamic outfits like Al-Qaeda -- have been able to mount large-scale, organised attacks on security forces while maintaining a deadly guerrilla campaign of suicide and other attacks. | And getting themselves killed in large numbers |
In response coalition and Afghan troops launched in mid-May their biggest operation yet against the rebels, confronting them in strongholds that previously saw little government authority. |