KABUL, March 6: Nato began its spring offensive against the Taliban on Tuesday, launching its biggest attacks since the 2001 war on Taliban militants and Afghan drug lords.

Operation Achilles, which will involve 4,500 Nato and 1,000 Afghan troops, began around dawn in southern Helmand province. At the same time, the Taliban said they had captured a reporter spying for British troops.

“We consider this a major operation and I do not think you would be wrong if you were to characterise it as the start of ISAF's major operations for 2007,” a spokesman for Nato's ISAF, told reporters in Kabul.

“It signifies the beginning of a planned offensive to bring security to northern Helmand and set the conditions for meaningful development that will fundamentally improve the quality of life for Afghans in the area,” ISAF southern command chief said.—Reuters