KABUL: The Taliban declared the start of a spring offensive across Afghanistan Saturday, warning they would target foreign troops, as well as Afghan security forces and top government officials, in a wave of attacks including suicide bombings. In a statement, the hard-line militants warned Afghan civilians to stay away from public gatherings, military bases and convoys, as well as Afghan government centers and buildings, as these would be the focus of attacks starting on May 1. The Taliban statement comes just a day after senior military officials and Western diplomats warned they expected a surge in insurgent attacks over the next week, beginning Sunday. “The Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants to declare the launching of the spring military operations named as “Badar” to be waged against the invading Americans and their foreign allies and internal supports,” the Taliban said in an e-mailed statement. “Operations will focus on attacks against military centers, places of gatherings, airbases, ammunition and logistical military convoys of the foreign invaders in all parts of the country,” the Taliban said. Senior military officials told Reuters Friday that recent intelligence reporting indicated the campaign of increased violence would last about a week and would be mounted by the Taliban, supported by the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network and other insurgents. Washington and commanders of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have trumpeted successes against a growing insurgency since 30,000 extra US troops were sent to Afghanistan last year. The Taliban said the targets of the attacks would be foreign forces, high-ranking officials of President Hamid Karzai's government, members of the cabinet and lawmakers, as well as the heads of foreign and local companies working for the NATO-led coalition. “All Afghan people should bear in mind to keep away from gatherings, convoys and centers of the enemy so that they will not become harmed during attacks of Mujahideen against the enemy,” the Taliban said. Senior military commanders have long anticipated a spike in violence with the arrival of the spring and summer “fighting season”, although the usual winter lull was not seen as US-led forces pressed their attacks against insurgents, particularly in the Taliban's southern heartland. The Taliban did not say how long their stepped-up campaign would last. NATO claims Taliban have recently suffered setbacks such as high casualties and the loss of traditional strongholds. Meanwhile, a gunman who opened fire at an air force training center in Kabul, leaving eight US troops and an American contractor dead, appeared to be acting alone, NATO said Saturday. “At this point in the investigation, it appears that the gunman was acting alone. Beyond that, no Taliban connection with the gunman has been discovered,” said a NATO release. “However, the investigation is still ongoing, and we have not conclusively ruled out that possibility,” it said.
