Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan and US-led forces based in Afghanistan have stepped up activities as they have carried out a series of suicide and roadside attacks since last weekend.

An Afghan National Army officer (R) gives explanation to Canadian forces during an operation in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, May 13, 2009. Afghan and NATO forces conducted a joint operation against Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents on Wednesday, during which a huge amount of narcotics and ammunitions were discovered. [Stringer/Xinhua]

In the new wave of violence which targeted a US military base outside Khost city, capital of Khost province in east Afghanistan, Wednesday morning, at least seven people were killed and 21 others injured. All the victims were civilians.

Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid who claimed sending over 30 suicide bombers to Khost province, in talks with media from unknown location said on Wednesday that a Taliban fighter Zukria carried out the bombing, inflicting huge casualties on the troops.

According to Taliban claim, Zukria rammed his explosive-packed car into the gate of US military base in Sahra Bagh area leaving over three dozen foreign and Afghan troopers dead, a claim rejected by troops as utterly groundless.

The bloody incident follows the multiple suicide attacks against government buildings in Khost city Tuesday killing nine people, including four policemen, and wounding some 30 others.

Afghan and Canadian forces discuss the ways of operation in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, May 13, 2009. Afghan and NATO forces conducted a joint operation against Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents on Wednesday, during which a huge amount of narcotics and ammunitions were discovered. [Stringer/Xinhua]

Taliban group said in a statement released to media from undisclosed hideout late last month, fanatic group vowed to launch spring offensive dubbed "Nasrat" which means "Victory" across the country from May 1st.

Since the announcement of the threat, the militants have increased their activities against Afghan, US-led Coalition and the NATO-led peacekeeping force ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in the post-Taliban nation.

As sign of spreading influence, the militants have conducted a series of attacks including suicide ones against government and international forces' interest in the relatively peaceful northern provinces over the past couple of weeks. In their targets, Taliban fighters claimed the lives of four German soldiers in the northern Kunduz province.

Escalation in militancy is seen amid US and allied decision to send in additional 29,000 troops in the war-shattered Afghanistan and thousands of them will be deployed ahead of presidential elections which were set for August 20.

The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday in a surprise move sacked General David Mckiernan, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, and appointed former Special Forces commander General Stanley McChrystal to oversee President Barack Obama's strategy against the rampant Taliban-led insurgency.

Meantime, the hard-line militants who vowed to disrupt the coming elections have repeatedly said they would continue war against US-led forces in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said that boosting military strength would facilitate insurgents to further hunt foreign soldiers in the post-Taliban land.

Taliban-linked insurgency and conflicts had left over 5,000 people dead with more than 2,100 of them civilians last year. The militant in the new tactic which carried out mostly in the shape of suicide attacks and roadside bombings is predicted to claim more lives in Afghanistan.

Afghan forces burn a pile of raw hashish discovered during a joint operation in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, May 13, 2009. Afghan and NATO forces conducted a joint operation against Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents on Wednesday, during which a huge amount of narcotics and ammunitions were discovered. [Stringer/Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2009)