The attacks in Afghanistan renewed amid reports of intensive preparations by the Taliban and the government in anticipation of battles during the coming spring, amid stalled peace negotiations between the two parties, while Germany confirmed that the time for the withdrawal of foreign forces is not yet ripe.

In the context of the escalating violence in Afghanistan, the Deputy Governor of Nangarhar Province and the Governor of Sarakhrod District in eastern Afghanistan were injured today, in the detonation of an explosive device planted on the side of the road near the city of Jalalabad, the state capital.

On the other hand, a security source confirmed to the island that 5 members of the Afghan forces were killed in the detonation of an explosive device in Daikundi state in the center of the country.

These developments come after the country recently witnessed a wave of explosions by sticky explosive devices, which resulted in deaths, including a security official in the capital, Kabul, in conjunction with violence in other regions.

It also comes after the stalled peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government, and the US President Joe Biden’s announcement that it will review the peace agreement concluded by the administration of former President Donald Trump with the Taliban about a year ago in the Qatari capital, Doha, accusing the movement of not meeting the conditions for withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan. .

Spring offensive

Reuters reported in a report today, citing 4 Taliban sources, that during the past few weeks, most of the field leaders of the movement who were busy training fighters were summoned to the areas of operations in order to prepare for the escalation of fighting during the spring season, as the movement launches what is known as the Spring Offensive in March every year.

The agency also quoted residents of areas largely controlled by the Taliban in the north-east of the country that they have noticed in the past few weeks an escalation in the movement's activities, which include the movement of militants in large numbers, the supply of supplies, meetings in mosques, and the recruitment of fighters.

A member of the Taliban special forces told Reuters that if the US and NATO forces did not withdraw from Afghanistan on the date set by the peace agreement, i.e. next May, they would face a war that they had not witnessed during the past 20 years.

In the same context, Reuters quoted two sources in the Afghan government as saying that the latter called on its forces to prepare for a harsh battle next spring.

The two sources added that special forces from the army, police and other security services are being put under one command, in anticipation of the spring offensive that the Taliban are mobilizing.

The movement had recently threatened that it would resume fighting if foreign forces did not withdraw by next May under the Doha Peace Agreement that was signed in late February of last year.

Pull out forces

Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karnbau said today that the Afghan peace talks have not made progress allowing the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan for the time being.

She added that we must prepare for the deteriorating security situation for the foreign forces present in this country.

In the context, Reuters quoted the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, that what he described as the violence of the Taliban movement exceeded previously recorded levels.

Miller said that this level of violence does not create the conditions for moving towards the desired historic turning point in Afghanistan.

For its part, New Zealand announced today that it will end its military presence in Afghanistan in May.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the ongoing peace process in Doha is the best opportunity to reach a lasting political solution to the Afghan conflict.

She explained that the decision to end the military presence of her country's forces in Afghanistan was taken in consultation with key partners.

It is reported that the number of New Zealand forces that participated in NATO forces in Afghanistan is estimated at 3,500 soldiers.