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2020-07-15 Afghanistan
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Afghan Civilian Casualties Fell 11% But Still High
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[ToloNews] A report by Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) shows that 1,213 non-combatants were killed and 1,740 civilians were maimed in the first six months of this year, an 11% reduction from the same period in 2019.
The reduction comes amid increasing peace efforts by the Afghan government and its allies, but critics say violence is still high--especially by the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
--which is a key element of the grinding of the peace processor.
In 2019, the AIHRC findings showed that 979 non-combatants were killed and 2,359 others were maimed in the first six months of the year.
For the current period, the report says an average of 16 civilians a day became victims of violence in Afghanistan during this period, and blamed the Taliban for 48.5% of the casualties and Afghan forces for 15.5% percent.
The report blames "unknown perpetrators" for 26.7% of the casualties, ISIS for 6.3% and international forces for 2.3% of the civilian casualties in the first six months of this year.
The remaining percentage of civilian casualties, the report says, were caused by rocket shelling of Pak forces on Kunar, Kandahar, Paktia, and Khost province
... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name...
s in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
The report states that 542 non-combatants were killed and 896 others were maimed in Taliban attacks during this period, which is a 24% decrease compared to the same period in 2019.
Civilian casualties in Taliban attacks in 2019 were 1,912 killed or maimed, the report highlights.
The report says the incident types included assassinations (31% of casualties), IEDs (26%), rocket attacks (11.7%), ground battles (no percentage mentioned), Arclight airstrike
 ...KABOOM! ...
s (killed 108 civilians) and nights raids (4 civilians killed).
The report says there was a 44 percent reduction in civilian casualties caused by airstrikes and 90% decrease in civilian casualties caused by night raids in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
The AIHRC report indicates that the northwestern zone has endured the highest number of civilian casualties in the first six months of this year with 319 civilians killed and 373 others maimed.
The less affected areas were the western zone with 240 casualties (killed and maimed).
"All warring parties should leave violence and focus on negotiations," AIHRC Deputy Chief Naeem Nazari said.
"Taliban and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan are the main cause of civilian casualties," presidential front man Sediq Sediqqi said.
Victims families have often called for justice as two Kabul residents who lost their relatives in an attack early in March said the raid that happened on a gathering of politicians has yet to be probed.
"Such attacks show the weakness of the government," said Suhaila Shujaee, a Kabul resident, referring to the March 7 attack on Afghan politicians gathering in the west of Kabul.
The report says there has been 0.5% reduction in women casualties in the first six months of this year compared to 2019. It shows that 126 women were killed and 171 others maimed during this period.
The report comes as five people were killed and 11 others maimed in a blast Surobi district, 60 kilometers east of Kabul.
Govt Data: 2,685 Civilians Casualties in Five Months
A different look at the data: [ToloNews] The Afghan security agencies data seen by TOLOnews shows that 2,685 civilians were killed or wounded in five months--from Jan. 21 to June 20--but the figures do not differentiate between those who lost their lives and those who were wounded.
The data is from one month ahead of the Feb. 28 peace deal between the US and the Taliban and four months afterward. It shows that civilian casualties have increased after the signing of the peace deal compared to one month ahead of the agreement.
The data shows that that 351 civilians were killed or wounded between Jan. 21 and Feb. 19, but the casualties increased to 553 between Feb. 20 to March 19.
The figures report 517 civilian casualties between March 20 and April 19, and an increase to 669 from April 20 to May 20.
The data shows that 595 civilians were killed or wounded between May 21 to June 20.
February 11 was the deadliest day for civilians in the last five months, during which 180 civilians were killed and wounded, the data shows.
The month of Hamal (March 2020), casualties among Afghan civilians were as follows: 143 Afghan civilians killed and wounded in the first week of Hamal, 13 killed and wounded in the second week, 94 civilians killed and wounded in the third week and 148 civilians killed and wounded in the fourth week.
The data is similar to a report by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) released on Tuesday that shows 2,953 civilian casualties (1,213 killed and 1,740 wounded).
The rise in civilian casualties and attacks by the Taliban have been sharply criticized by foreign diplomats and critics who say the violence should be reduced to move the peace process forward.
“What we observe is the level of violence which is probably the highest since the beginning of the war, we see probably twenty attacks every week more than the average number of attacks at this season, so it’s terrible and we condemn,” said David Martinon, French ambassador to Kabul.
On May 12, a maternity hospital was attacked that resulted in the killing and wounding of 160 Afghan civilians. March 6, an attack was launched on a political gathering in the same area that killed and wounded 180 civilians. Daesh claimed responsibility for both attacks.
More data seen by TOLOnews shows that the Taliban conducted 5,943 attacks from January 21 to June 20, while Afghan forces--supported by foreign troops--conducted 1,569 operations against the group.
The Taliban has so far not commented on the statistics.
The Taliban released a statement on the completion of 135 days after the peace deal--a milestone in the agreement-- saying the agreement has been “violated” by Afghan and US forces as they have "carried out airstrikes in non-combat areas."
The group welcomed troop reduction by US during the past 135 days but criticizes delay in prisoner exchange. 
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Posted by trailing wife 2020-07-15 02:00||
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