Despite the breakthrough in the Doha talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, the Taliban has continued its attacks on at least 21 provinces in Afghanistan in the last 24 hours, said the Afghan defense ministry as reported by TOLOnews. 

The ministry said the insurgent group maintained its offensive actions despite the breakthrough in talks. The attacks were repelled by the Afghan forces which have remained in “active defense mode” in all these 21 provinces. 

The report says the data from the last week show the group has mounted attacks on 20-25 provinces on daily basis. 
 
“The Taliban launched attacks on outposts of the Afghan forces and military centers in 21 provinces of the country. The government forces repelled their attacks and have inflicted casualties to the enemy,” said Rohullah Ahmadzai, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. 

As the warring parties enter into the next phase of the intra-Afghan negotiation, Afghan Army chief Yasin Zia had told the reporters earlier that the Taliban has planned to continue their fighting in winter too. 

Normally, in the winter season, the Taliban used to stop its offensive actions. As a former military official was quoted in the same report: “We will have a tough winter due to the war because the Taliban will not be convinced by small gifts and are expecting bigger ones.” 

The group is expecting either handing over the government (to them) or at least the key military part of the government before agreeing to a ceasefire, he added.