The Taliban said that the operations would forge ahead under the direct guidance of the group’s military strategists while keeping in mind new developments of the current year. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban on Saturday announced they are launching the annual traditional “Spring Offensive” to defeat “western invaders, completely freeing the nation from the cusps of occupation and establishing an Islamic rule” in Afghanistan.
The Taliban said this year's offensive would be code-named "Khalid bin Waleed (RA)".
The ISAF commander in Afghanistan, Gen Joseph F Dunford, said ahead of the fighting season that, “the insurgency will confront a combined ANSF (Afghan National Security Force) and Afghanistan Local Police (ALP) force of over 350,000 personnel who are in the lead for security in areas containing over 87 per cent of Afghanistan’s population”.
The Taliban said that the operations would forge ahead under the direct guidance of the group’s military strategists while keeping in mind new developments of the current year.
“This year’s Khalid bin Waleed operation will be launched by the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate against America, Nato and their backers for the gratification of Allah Almighty, independence of Afghanistan and establishing in it an Islamic government while we humbly raise our hands towards Allah Almighty for its success and hope for a favorable and triumphant end,” the Taliban leadership council said.
“This year’s spring operation, in accordance with its combat nature, will consist of special military tactics quantity and quality wise while successful insider attacks, to eliminate foreign invaders, will be carried out by infiltrating Mujahideen inside enemy bases in a systematic and coordinated manner,” a Taliban statement said. The statement from the Taliban’s powerful leadership council was also sent to The Express Tribune.
Giving details of the offensives to be formally launched on Sunday (April 28), the statement said that the plans include collective suicide operations on bases of foreign invaders, their diplomatic centers and military airbases will be even further structured while every possible tactic will be utilized in order to detain or inflict heavy casualties on the foreign transgressors.
“Khalid bin Waleed operation will be launched in unison throughout the country, heralded with the cry of ‘takbeer’, against the transgressing invaders and their degenerate backers,” the Taliban went on to say.
The leadership council asked the Taliban fighters to take care to “protecting the lives and property of civilians as well as of all of our national resources and public welfare establishments during the operation.”
The ISAF and Afghan official dispute Taliban claim of not harming the civilians and insist that mostly civilians are killed in Taliban attacks.
Taliban called on the people to stay away from the bases of the “invaders, their residential areas or working for them in order to avoid civilian losses”.
“We once again call on all the officials and workers of the stooge Karzai regime to break away from this decaying administration in order to conform to Islamic commands, national interests and protection of yourselves and to choose a life of prosperity living alongside your own people in an atmosphere of peace and security,” the Taliban said.
The statement said that all those government workers and soldiers, who surrender or join the Taliban, will be protected.
“The Islamic Emirate, before launching its Khalid bin Waleed spring operation, calls on all of its Muslim nation’s religious figures, tribal elders and all the influential figures of society to keep away their youth from joining the ranks of America’s mercenary programs (army, police, and volunteer) so to deliver them from the destruction of this world and the hereafter”.
COMMENTS (16)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@afzaal khan:
"Really getting tired of fear tactics, here is my answer go ahead and show us world wrath, ask if we give a damn. "
Iran and North Korea said the same thing.
North Korea's poverty rate is now 80%, thanks to years of sanctions. Iran's economy is in a free fall.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/world/middleeast/irans-double-digit-inflation-worsens.html
Iran is suffering high inflation, due to lack of virtually everything! Pakistan's economy is already on the brink, and as the Joker in Dark Knight says, "all is needed is a little push..".
It is your kind of attitude why people say Pakistan talks with the gun to its own temple.
World maybe or may not be full of angels, but sanctions won't care for that to take effect and strangulate the Pakistani economy.
Pakistani is already not able to generate enough jobs for people coming into the job market, imagine if the sanctions come into effect. Without firing a single bullet Pakistan will be destroyed, that too from within.
@BruteForce
Really getting tired of fear tactics, here is my answer go ahead and show us world wrath, ask if we give a damn. Get a life, like world itself is full of angels.
@afzaal khan:
Talk reality for a second. What you said is NOT going to happen. You may see these as Muslim powers and send Pakistani forces to fight their battles but they will not do the same.
US is going to leave Afghansitan, when I say that I mean in combat roles. They will not exit completely, but they not participating in combat is very crucial.
If it does happen, it will be a double whammy for Pakistan. Pakistan has not been punished for sheltering Al Qaeda and Taliban only because of US reliance on it for supply routes. When US drastically reduces their count that dependency is gone, meaning more Drone strikes and even sanctions and trade embargoes. Pakistan will be blackmailed into doing things, that is for sure.
For Pakistan there is a good option. If US stays in small numbers, Taliban do not go completely out of Pakistan, thereby increasing radicalism. If US exists, they'll have to face the world's wrath for supporting Terrorists and they'll have a Taliban neighbour, increasing the radicalism still on the Pakistani side.
Sad to see so many Pakistani's on here cheering on the possibility of senseless Taliban brutality in my country. I'm just wondering what Afghanistan ever did to deserve such a lack of humanity. There is a God and he is just. He see's all whom wish things on other Muslims they would never wish on themselves.
@afzaal khan: "It is the occupiers & they are not leaving, US has clearly stated they will keep a force in Afghanistan & this is the main issue."
That is like saying that we'll continue to shoot ourselves in the head if foreigners don't get out. Foreigners are there because Afghanistan itself is unable (or its neighbor don't allow it) to stand up on its two legs. Its territory had been used by all sorts of bad elements and its society is in utter ruins, with people ready to kill each other in the name of tribes/ethnicity they belong to, instead of standing up as one people for the Nation as a whole.
As for OIC peace corps - One can only look at Syria to understand how well these guys can handle the matter. Besides, non-regional players (who have no direct interest in Afghanistan) will never ever commit men & material in Afghanistan. Ultimately it always boils down to regional players, as that is what Geography & economy commands.
As for election, there's already an election due in 2014, in which even Taliban has been invited to take part (though it views such stuff as against its principles).
Are u people nuts or are u out of ur mind,if NATO forces will fail than terrorist will become stronger and will create problems in afghanistan and pakistan,but with every passing day taliban hold in afghanistan is getting weaker and since this is last year for american and Nato army they will use all their force and technology to corner them and make them weaker so that they wont be able to establish their rule,as now even tribals and civilians have saw the real face of terrorism so in such circumstances they will have to find another safe heaven for themselves and u guessed it right it will be in the form of pakistan and believe me as i know that there are frequent bombing going on in pakistan but this is not even 10% of what they can do once they are able to shift to pakistan. May 11 will be a historic day for pakistan as for the first time after almost 65 years you will elect ur new leaders after a successful completion of democratic tenure and just imagine new goverment been thrown away by this terrorist and taking law and order in their hands.
May God give u "Common Sense"
@Naveen
It is the occupiers & they are not leaving, US has clearly stated they will keep a force in Afghanistan & this is the main issue. I am not 4 Talibaan nor am for any other side. For decades outside forces including Pakistan has been interfering in Afghanistan this has got to stop. A simple solution could be OIC taking charge, all foreign forces to leave Afghanistan, countries like Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia should send peace forces with clear mandate, all parties in Afghanistan should take part in election with constitutional assembly to provide constitution & general election. Let Afghan decide their own fate, if they fail it is on them, peace force will be withdrawn in a given time table. This could be done if others butt out including Pakistan.
A@owais: Do you have the same wishes to ttp or they are bad Taliban even if they are ally of Afghan talibane
a grave scenery. these violence will spread into pakistan. we need peace , no more fighting please.
@owais: @ashar: Thanks for the insight into the minds of Afghan Taliban. Btw Allow me to share a wise maxim with you- Don't do unto others, that you would not like to be done to you. It is not the Westerners (who are anyway leaving) but the innocent Afghan Civilians who will (as has been the case in past) pay the price for the Taliban's offensive. I am sorry but I see nothing to cheer about.
Nice BUT Taliban ideology also came from invasion some 1000+ years ago !
This will the the 12th or 11th spring offensive. My predictions: many civilians will be killed. Afghans and US forces will not lose ground, while Taliban becomes even more unpopular. At the end of this spring offensive, nothing will be achieved.
Taliban already defeated America and Nato..I hope Taliban will clean sweap this time in Afghanistan.. Allah pak please help them they are the true mujahideen of islam.(ameen) Our forces should leave this war May Allah pak gives us Hadyat (amen)
May Allah be with you all.
Interesting ... BTW they have already defeated the super power ... now just the fine tuning is left !!!!