Western and Afghan military officials believe the Taliban militia is incapable of launching major attacks and is trying to exaggerate its strength in an attempt to influence this year’s elections.
Reacting to threats of a spring offensive made by a spokesman for the fundamentalist group in an interview with AFP, the officials said the claim was propaganda and the group was unable to muster significant forces. “Taliban, as the enemies of Afghanistan, have used the best of their abilities to try to disturb the situation in the country but they have failed,” General Mohammed Zahir Azimi of the Afghan defense ministry told AFP. “What they have been able to do is to carry out some suicide attacks, plant bombs and ambush unarmed people. Their claim to launch a spring offensive is only words and propaganda.” Full Story
