Afghan Taliban said their annual "spring offensive" will begin on Friday, vowing nationwide attacks in what is expected to be the bloodiest fighting season in a decade, while NATO occupation forces pull back from the frontlines

The Afghan Taliban said their annual "spring offensive" will begin on Friday, vowing nationwide attacks in what is expected to be the bloodiest fighting season in a decade, while NATO occupation forces pull back from the frontlines.

This year's offensive marks the first fighting season in which Afghan forces will battle the militants without the full support of US-led foreign combat troops.

The terrorists have already stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in recent weeks, taking a heavy toll on civilians and Afghan security forces.