...the Pashtun equivalent of men...attacks in many provinces.
The deputy minister, who visited Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
on Wednesday, said the government forces' operations are being launched in insecure areas in the west.
The Afghan forces operations against the Taliban were resumed last week following an order from President Ghani to switch from "active defense" to "offense" mode. A rise in violence generally by the krazed killer group, and two attacks with high civilian casualties in Kabul and Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
, led Ghani to order the new military posture.
Speaking of the new "offense" mode", Lt. Gen Qane said: "We want to show it in practice, based on the issued order, that our forces have switched to offense mode instead of defensive," Qane said.
Herat residents, meanwhile, called on the warring sides to agree to a ceasefire during the Eid days.
"Our demand from the Taliban is to stop killing during Eid days," said Safiullah Yaran, a Herat resident.
"We call on the Taliban to join the grinding of the peace processor," said Omid Iman, a Herat resident.