Taliban Declare Start of Spring Offensive in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive Friday despite talking peace with the United States and ahead of a significant gathering of Afghans meant to discuss resolutions to the protracted war and an eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

The Taliban released a lengthy missive in five languages, including English, saying the fighting would continue while foreign forces remain in Afghanistan.

The announcement is something the militant group does every year, though Taliban attacks never really ceased during the harsh winter months. They carry out daily attacks targeting Afghan security forces and NATO troops, and inflicting staggering casualties, including among civilians. On Monday, a Taliban attack near the main U.S. air base in Afghanistan killed three Marines.

The Taliban hold sway over half the country in a relentless 17-year war, America's longest.

Friday's announcement instructs the Taliban mujahedeen, or holy warriors, to "launch jihadi operations with sincerity and pure intentions," strictly abiding by the Taliban command structure. It urges fighters to avoid civilian casualties.

The U.N.'s annual report this year said civilian deaths hit a record high in 2018, blaming the Taliban and other militants, such as the Islamic State group, though it also noted increased civilian casualties from U.S. bombing raids, most often in aid of Afghan troops on the ground.

Still, preparations are underway for Afghan-to-Afghan talks starting next week in Qatar, where the Taliban have a political office.

In Kabul, the Afghan High Peace Council, a government body created years ago to talk peace with anti-government forces, condemned the Taliban announcement, saying it brought into question their sincerity in seeking a peaceful end to the war.

Atta-u-Rahman Saleim, a council deputy, told The Associated Press over the phone that it undermines the credibility of the Taliban.

"They are insisting on war," he said. "We can see this every day."

U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has escalated efforts to find a peaceful end to the war since his appointment last year, has been urging the Taliban to accept a cease-fire and hold talks directly with the Kabul government, something they refuse to do. The Taliban, who see the Afghan government as a U.S. puppet, say they will talk to Kabul officials at the upcoming Qatar meeting only as "ordinary Afghans" and not as government representatives.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the AP on Friday that the group has banned the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization from operating in territory under their control. This is the second time in the past year the insurgents have barred Red Cross workers.

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