Kabul: The Taliban warned Kabul residents Monday to avoid “militarycentres” in the heavily fortified city, saying they are planning moreattacks in the capital where civilians have long taken the brunt of thecasualties.
The militant group has issued such warnings to civilians before, includingduring a failed attempt to take the western city of Farah last week, but itis believed to be the first time they have singled out Kabul.
The warning comes after the United Nations said the war-weary capital –where the Islamic State group is also stepping up its attacks — is alreadythe deadliest place in the country for civilians.
The Taliban said they are planning more attacks on “the enemy´s militaryand intelligence centres” as part of an annual spring offensive.
“Therefore, to avoid civilian casualties and only cause damage to enemymilitary, we are asking Kabul residents to keep away… We don´t want evena single innocent civilian to be killed”, a statement published online said.
The group did not define what was meant by “military and intelligencecentres”.
Such targets are difficult to avoid given the overcrowded city is the heartof the country´s intelligence, government and military operations and alsoplagued by traffic jams due to ubiquitous checkpoints and barriers.
“Any attacks or explosions, even a small one, would cause civiliancasualties because military installations are located in the centre of thecity near people´s houses,” political and military analyst Nik Mohammadtold AFP.
The Taliban´s statement was pure propaganda, he said, adding that if theyfight in the cities “you will definitely kill civilians, there is no way toavoid that”.
The Taliban are stepping up their Al Khandaq spring offensive in anapparent rejection of calls for the militants to take up the Afghangovernment´s February offer of peace talks.
The group portrays itself as taking care to avoid civilian casualties, buthas claimed attacks such as a massive bomb hidden in an ambulance inJanuary which detonated in a crowded street and killed more than 100 people.
The extremists´ chilling ability to hit at the heart of the country despiteincreased police checks has spotlighted security and intelligence failures,with the government of President Ashraf Ghani coming under increasingpressure to protect civilians.
Kabul — overflowing with returning refugees and internally displacedAfghans fleeing war and seeking jobs and security — has been the deadliestplace in the country for civilians for months.
Figures from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)show that Afghan civilians were deliberately targeted in militant attacksand suicide blasts in 2017.
The capital is a top target, with 16 percent of all casualties during theyear — a total of 1,831 people killed and wounded — occurring in Kabulalone. The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier. -APP/AFP