Taliban has deployed 6,000 fighters, leader warns
Updated Thu. Feb. 22 2007 12:57 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff
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The Taliban has deployed 6,000 fighters in preparation for a bloody spring offensive against the Afghan government and its allies, the insurgency's military commander is threatening.
Mullah Dadullah told the Al-Jazeera network that the Taliban is preparing for the bloody offensive by means of training, surveillance, and reconnaissance
"There are 6,000 Taliban mujahideen (holy warriors) ready to fight in the spring campaign, and the number will rise to 10,000. The greater the number of Jewish and Christian forces fighting us, the more this will encourage the people to join us," said Dadullah, commander of Taliban operations in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan and a trusted associate of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
He said the fighters were hidden in tunnels and elsewhere in preparation for the assault.
The movement's leaders warned that the attack would include all of Afghanistan, but that it would focus in the southern region, where most of the troops are British and Canadian.
The Taliban also claimed to Al-Jazeera it has obtained a new anti-aircraft weapon but did not provide further details.
More on link
Updated Thu. Feb. 22 2007 12:57 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff
Article Link
The Taliban has deployed 6,000 fighters in preparation for a bloody spring offensive against the Afghan government and its allies, the insurgency's military commander is threatening.
Mullah Dadullah told the Al-Jazeera network that the Taliban is preparing for the bloody offensive by means of training, surveillance, and reconnaissance
"There are 6,000 Taliban mujahideen (holy warriors) ready to fight in the spring campaign, and the number will rise to 10,000. The greater the number of Jewish and Christian forces fighting us, the more this will encourage the people to join us," said Dadullah, commander of Taliban operations in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan and a trusted associate of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
He said the fighters were hidden in tunnels and elsewhere in preparation for the assault.
The movement's leaders warned that the attack would include all of Afghanistan, but that it would focus in the southern region, where most of the troops are British and Canadian.
The Taliban also claimed to Al-Jazeera it has obtained a new anti-aircraft weapon but did not provide further details.
More on link
