Taliban increase attacks on defence forces
12 July, 2012
KABUL: The armed opponents have increased their attacks on the Afghan security forces as compared to that on the foreign forces, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, General Zahir Azimi said the armed opponents had augmented attacks, mostly with improvised explosive devices, on the Afghan security forces, particularly on the Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, by forty percent as compared to the past.
Azimi said their recent information indicated the armed opponents had decreased attacks on the foreign forces.
"The armed opponents have mostly focused their attention on the Afghan security forces, particularly on the Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel. Most of the casualties to the Afghan security forces are being caused by the IEDs, rather than the armed attacks.
The armed opponents are incapable to engage the Afghan security forces in frontal attacks.
They plant IEDs which often cause casualties to Afghan civilians," Azimi said.
The defence spokesman said multiple Afghan security personnel and civilians suffered casualties in various parts of the country as a result of 49 IED strikes in the last 21 days.
Few months back, the Taliban announced launching their Al-Farooq operation throughout the county, claiming they would increase their attacks following which the assaults have seen an upsurge.
Some analysts, however, believe that attacks on the foreign forces had also increased.
A military analyst, General Abdul Baqi Walizada told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that attacks had increased on Afghan security forces as well as on the foreign forces.
"The defence ministry is right that the armed opponents have increased attacks on the Afghan security forces.
But I don't agree that they have decreased attacks on the foreign forces.
The foreign forces suffer casualties in various bombings and attacks every day.
The armed opponents have increased attacks on the Afghan security forces to show them weak before the masses," he added.
The defence ministry says efforts are underway to strengthen the Afghan security forces, particularly the Afghan National Army.
The ministry says the security forces have increased capabilities to locate and defuse IEDs.
However, the ministry admitted that the roadside bombings caused by IEDs cause most of the casualties to the security forces.
End.
|
