Deadly start to Taliban ‘spring offensive’

Five killed and 12 wounded in Afghanistan on first day of Taliban’s newly launched offensive.

Afghanistan Taliban Fresh Offensive
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The Taliban on Saturday declared a new series of high-profile attacks against foreign troops and Afghan officials (Reuters)

The Taliban has killed five people and injured 12 others in two attacks staged on the first day of its newly launched ‘spring offensive’, Afghan officials said.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed vest at a bazaar in the Barmal district of Paktika province, which is on the Afghan-Pakstani border, the interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Three civilians were killed and 11 others were injured, and the provincial police have launched an investigation, the statement said.

In another incident, a gunman opened fire on a checkpoint in the southwestern province of Ghazni, killing two policemen and wounding a bystander during an hour-long battle, provincial police chief Zerawar Zahid said.

On Saturday the Taliban declared a new series of high-profile attacks against foreign troops and Afghan officials and military.

In a statement, the group warned citizens to stay away from public locations to prevent getting harmed during the offensive.

Source: News Agencies