Security experts on Wednesday raised concerns over the growing number of insurgent operations in several parts of the country, a strategic push that the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) linked to a Taliban winter push in effort to derail the April elections.
Since the start of the new year just three weeks ago, militant groups have in various regions carried out coordinated suicide attacks, including last week's high-profile attack on a popular Kabul Lebanese restaurant that left 21 dead, including 13 foreign nationals. There have been attacks in Kandahar, Helmand and Nimroz provices as well.
In Nimroz, the most recent of the attacks, a group of suicide bombers raided a Chahar Burjak District building. However, according to local police, the attackers were killed with no other casualties suffered.
Minister of Interior Muhammad Omar Dawoudzai suggested the recent string of attacks to kick-off the new year were related to the Taliban's plan to disrupt the Presidential and Provincial Council elections to be held in just over two months.
"The reports we have received indicate the armed government opposition groups have received regular guidance from across the border to stay in Afghanistan and not return to their hideouts this winter and continue their attacks in order to sabotage the upcoming elections," Minister Dawoudzai said. "Perhaps the recent attacks are part of their plan, but we have witnessed that these attempts will not succeed."
According to analysts, however, there are other factors at work behind the intesification of militant activities around the country.
"Beside the elections, the anti-government insurgents are also exploiting the stalemate over the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between the U.S. and Afghanistan," military analyst General Attiqullah Amarkhail said. "Foreign meddling is also one of the factors, and lastly, our weakness has led to the rise in attacks."