Taliban increase attacks on Afghan forces since signing U.S. deal - data

KABUL/MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Taliban have mounted more than 4,500 attacks in Afghanistan, marking a sharp escalation in violence, in the 45 days since signing a deal with the United States that paves the way for a U.S. troop drawdown, according to data seen by Reuters.

Two sets of data, one from a Western military source and one from an independent body, both show attacks up by more than 70 percent between March 1 and April 15 compared to the same period a year ago.