Nato doubts taliban can launch spring offensive

Taliban militants will soon increase attacks in Afghanistan, but the violence will not amount to a “spring offensive,” a Nato spokesman said today.

Instead, it will be Nato troops who will be launching the real offensive, Brig. Gen. Richard Nugee said in Kabul, referring to upcoming military operations but giving no details.

“We do not believe there will be a spring offensive by the Taliban,” Nugee said.

“There will be an upward surge in violence as the weather gets better ... I don’t think it will amount to an offensive. An offensive is a very symbolic phrase, it means a huge upsurge in a very short amount of time. We just don’t think that will happen.”

Last year, the Taliban launched a record number of attacks, and at least 4,000 people, most of them militants, died in insurgency-related violence, according to a tally by The Associated Press based on reports from Afghan, Nato and US-led coalition officials.

Militants also launched a record 139 suicide attacks in 2006, according to the US military.