Xinhua
Kabul, March 25 (Xinhua) Taliban insurgents have vowed to launch spring offensive against Afghan and international troops stationed in the country, a top commander of the outfit said Tuesday. Mullah Brother who claims to be deputy to the outfit’s supreme but elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar said in a statement to media outlets in south Afghanistan that the Taliban would launch armed operation in spring dubbed as “Abrat” to force foreign forces out of Afghanistan.

“We would launch Abrat operation in this spring and force the foreign troops leave Afghanistan,” the statement said.

It also called on Afghans to join the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (former name of Taliban hierarchy) in Jihad or holy war against the government of President Hamid Karzai and foreign troops serving in the country.

Taliban militants have issued several such statements since toppling from power by the US-led Coalition forces in late 2001.

More than 8,000 people were killed in violent incidents in Afghanistan in 2007 while over 250 have lost their lives in conflicts and militancy so far this year in the war-battered country.
Xinhua