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Afghanistan fighting season

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Coalition fatalities per month since the start of the war, showing seasonal peaks around the summer months.[1]

The Afghanistan fighting season refers to the cyclical restarting of fighting every spring during the War in Afghanistan due to weather and economic factors. It generally runs from April to October.


Factors

Regional security risks and levels of opium poppy cultivation in 2007–2008.

Afghanistan suffers from a harsh winter. Combined with Afghanistan's poor transportation system, this leaves many parts of the country snowbound until spring. Very importantly, in leaves many routes into Pakistan where recruits and weapons come from impassable for months.[2]

Opium poppies are planted beginning in October and harvest begins in April.[3][4] Manpower that was otherwise tied up in the Opium trade is freed up for fighting between April and October.

Madrassas in Pakistan go on recess during the Spring. New recruits subjected to religious and military training often volunteer to fight in Afghanistan.[5][2]

Notable seasons

  • 2019 - The Taliban announced that the fighting season would begin on April 12th, after stalling peace talks.[6][7]

See also

Reference

  1. ^ "Operation Enduring Freedom". iCasualties.org. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b "The End of Afghanistan's Spring Fighting Seasons and the Demise of the Afghan National Security Forces?". Small Wars Journal. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  3. ^ "Grain field crops" (PDF). afghanag.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  4. ^ "Poppy growing season begins in Afghanistan after last year's record opium sale". The National. November 14, 2013. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  5. ^ "'Madrassas are emptying' for final US fighting season in Afghanistan". TheHill. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  6. ^ Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). "Taliban announce spring offensive as Afghanistan peace talks continue | News | DW | 12.04.2019". DW. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  7. ^ Ahmed Rashid (2019-12-04). "Taliban announces spring offensive amid Afghan peace talks | Asia News". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
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