The Taliban have mounted more than 4,500 attacks in Afghanistan in the 45 days since signing a deal with the United States, Reuters reported on Friday.
Attacks by the Taliban increased by more than 70 percent between March 1 and April 15 compared to the same period a year ago, the report said citing data from a Western military source and an independent body.
More than 900 Afghan local and national forces were killed during that same period, up from about 520 in the same period a year earlier, the report said citing Afghan government data.
Meanwhile, Taliban casualties fell to 610 in the period, down from roughly 1,660 a year ago.
Javid Faisal, a spokesman for Afghanistan National Security Council, however, said that the Taliban carried out nearly 2,800 attacks in the 50 days since signing deal with the US.
Tariq Aryan, a spokesman for Interior Ministry, said that 1,400 Taliban militants were killed in clashes with Afghan forces.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters that while the Taliban have adhered to a commitment in the Feb. 29 deal not to mount attacks on US-led coalition forces or major cities, the militants’ level of violence “is unacceptably high” and “not conducive to a diplomatic solution.”
“We have continued to do defensive attacks to help defend our partners in the area and we will continue to do that,” Hoffman added.
The four provinces that have reported the highest number of coronavirus cases have also been the ones hit by the most by Taliban violence in recent weeks, according to the report. They are Herat, Kabul, Kandahar and Balkh.
A spokesman for Taliban told 1TV that the group has reduced its attacks by 60 percent and it didn’t violate the deal as a joint team was monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said: “Reducing violence is an absolute necessity—and this is up to the leaders of all military forces—ANDSF, Taliban fighters and, yes, the Coalition. Attacks generate attacks, while restraint produces restraint. All sides must choose restraint to prevent more killing and violence.”
He warned that there will be responses if the violence is not reduced.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid responded saying path to a resolution lies in the implementation of the Doha agreement.
“Do not harm the current environment with pointless & provocative statements,” Mujahid said. “We are committed to our end, honor your own obligations.”
