Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The Taliban on Saturday announced the start of a spring offensive across Afghanistan, saying that the fighting would start on Sunday, targeting foreign troops as well as Afghan security forces and officials.

To keep civilian death toll to the minimum, the insurgents warned civilians to stay away from public gatherings, military bases, government buildings and convoys, according to local media reports.

The Taliban declaration came a day after the U.S. Department of Defense issued its mandatory bi-annual report to Congress saying that the overall security situation stabilized “somewhat,” but highlighted a sharp increase in the levels of violence.

The report titled, “Report on Progress Towards Security and Stability in Afghanistan and United States Plan for Sustaining the Afghanistan Security Forces – April 2011,” factored that the “surge in U.S. and coalition forces,” was responsible for “much of the progress seen over the last six months.”

Briefing journalists on the report, a senior U.S. defense official said, “This year and this spring, the Taliban are going to make some significant efforts,” adding, “And that’s going to be a big challenge for the Afghan forces, for us, as those efforts are made.”

The report said, “International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and its Afghan partners have made tangible progress,” noting, however that, “Progress in governance and development was slower than security gains.”

Citing an increase of 87 percent in violence during October to March period, compared to the same period 12 months ago, the report said, “However, some individual islands of security exist in the sea of instability and insecurity.”

In an ambiguous conclusion the report said, “The Taliban’s momentum has been halted and much of their tactical infrastructure and popular support removed, although hard fighting is expected through the spring, summer and fall of 2011.”

“There will be difficult fighting and tough losses as the enemy tries to regain momentum and key areas lost in the past six months,” the report cautioned.

The unclassified report came ahead of a slated visit to Washington in May by Afghan President Hamid Karzai who had allegedly threatened to join the Taliban militancy if international interference in Afghanistan didn’t stop.

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