KABUL: The Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for an attack in eastern Afghanistan that the group said was part of its newly announced spring offensive. According to Afghan officials, Taliban fighters on Friday night detonated two truck bombs in the Shirzad district of Nangarhar province, east of Kabul. The assault came hours after the Taliban announced the start of Operation Fath, the name the militants have given to this year’s spring offensive. “Clashes are ongoing between (Afghan security forces) and Taliban terrorists.”The Taliban, who frequently exaggerate numbers, claimed to have killed or wounded “more than 200 soldiers, police and militias”. Later this month, Taliban officials are expected to meet with Afghanistan representatives, including some officials from the Kabul government, in the Qatari capital Doha.

Source: Pakistan Today April 13, 2019 15:11 UTC