ISAF Plans for Spring Offensive

Thirty-seven militants carried out attacks in Kabul and three provincial capitals April 15, marking the beginning of the fighting season in Afghanistan, which should be a major turning point in the war. With the 23,000 American troops remaining from the surge and other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops slated to start drawing down later this year, the 2012 spring fighting season is the ISAF's last chance to stage a significant offensive against the Taliban and strengthen the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) before the ANSF takes the lead in operations and in establishing physical security in the country.