UN report sees steep rise in Afghan civilian deaths
A UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mid-year report (PDF) released on July 31 indicated a 23% rise in the number of Afghan civilian casualties over the first six months of 2013 as compared to the same period last year. The report noted that many civilian deaths have been caused by the increased use of improvised explosive devices. Women and children are also increasingly the victims in the country's war, with a 30% increase in the number of children killed. Additionally, almost 75% of civilian deaths during this time period were caused by "Anti-Government Elements" such as Taliban fighters, who were increasingly targeting civilians that they viewed as cooperating with the government. The report calls on the Afghanistan government to "continue to disband and disarm all armed groups and to take measures to ensure accountability for human rights abuses carried out by these groups."
From Jurist, July 31. Used with permission.
Eid terror in Afghanistan
Eid al-Fitr festivities in Afghanistan were marred by an explosion at a graveyard that killed 14 women and children. The attack, which occurred in eastern Nangahar province, came as a group of women and youngsters gathered to commemorate the late wife of a pro-government tribal leader as part of their Eid prayers. (Zee News, Aug. 8)
Afghanistan: US air-strike wipes out civilians
Afghan officials Sept. 8 accused NATO of killing 15 people, nine of them civilians, including women and children, in an air-strike in Qoro village, Watapur district, Kunar province, near the border with Pakistan. Provinical officials said the strike targeted a pick-up truck being used for local transport by both Taliban fighters and village residents. Among the six combatants killed, two were said to be Arabs. (Al Jazeera)
Afghanistan: NATO air-strike wipes out civilians —again
Afghan President Hamid Karzai harshly criticized his NATO allies over an Oct. 4 air-strike eoutside Jalalabad that he said killed five civilians, including three children. The strike followed a mortar attack on a joint NATO-Afghan base. Speaking to the BBC, Karzai attacked the 12-year Western war effort. "On the security front the entire NATO exercise was one that caused Afghanistan a lot of suffering, a lot of loss of life, and no gains because the country is not secure," Karzai said. (The Telegraph, Oct. 7; Reuters, Oct. 6)