国际英语新闻：Taliban birthplace in S. Afghanistan experiences day of terror

The situation in Kandahar, the birthplace of Taliban, has been deteriorating since the emanating of reports last month on military preparation to launch a major offensive against militants in their former stronghold.

Afghan and NATO-led forces commanders said that the troops are getting ready to crackdown Taliban hideouts in Kandahar possibly in June to ensure durable peace there.

The militants who are facing enormous pressure in the southern Helmand province since mid February, after losing their bastion in Marjah to security forces, have intensified their activities, mostly in the shape of roadside bombings and suicide attacks.

However, the security forces, as sign of coordination to counter insurgency, have arrested some 20 terrorists elsewhere in the country, including five in Kabul over the past two weeks and recovered suicide vests and explosive devices from their possessions.

Monday's attack in Kandahar will not be the last one, as the Taliban fighters have vowed to speed up attacks against Afghan and the NATO-led forces this year everywhere in the post-Taliban central Asian state.