Afghan Taliban declare start of ‘spring offensive’

‘The Taliban militant group in Afghanistan has announced the start of its so-called spring offensive, a heightened campaign of bombings, ambush attacks, and other raids that begins as weather conditions improve.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, announced the launch of the offensive in an online statement on Friday.
The latest spring offensive has been dubbed by the group as “Operation Mansouri,” named after a Taliban leader who was killed in a US drone strike last year.
Mujahid claimed that the offensive this year would differ from previous ones in that it would include a “political” track as well. He said the militant group would engage in “social justice and development.”’
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