CIVILIAN casualties in Afghanistan soared to a record high in the first half of 2016, the United Nations said Monday, with children in particular paying a heavy price for growing insecurity as the conflict escalates.
Advertisement
In the first half of this year the United Nations said at least 1,600 people had died, and more than 3,500 people were injured – a 4 per cent increase in overall civilian causalities compared to the same period last year. “In just the past six months, there have been at least 5,166 such stories – of which one-third involve the killing or maiming of children, which is particularly alarming and shameful”.
While the main fight is against the Taliban, a stronger group than IS, the campaign is a departure from the previous defensive strategy of Afghan forces, who have struggled to contain insurgents since US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation troops ended their combat mission in 2014.
These terror groups, he said, “pursue a few objectives” in Afghanistan, the main among them being “revival of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, targeting India’s interests and goals in Afghanistan” and forming “strategic alliances with worldwide terrorist networks in the region and world”.
In the first half of this year, UNAMA documented 1,180 civilian casualties attributable to pro-government forces, or 23 per cent of the total.
Some of the casualties are linked to suicide attacks and explosive devices.
“Platitudes not matched by meaningful action ring hollow over time”, he said.
ISIS, a group that has made some limited inroads in Afghanistan, accounted for 122 casualties in the first six months of 2016 compared with 13 casualties attributed to it in the same period a year ago.
Overall, UNAMA’s report says that from January 1, 2009 until June 30, 2016, a total of 63,934 civilian casualties – 22,941 deaths and 40,993 wounded – have been recorded. Nawaz also said that Pakistan believed in combating terrorism and militancy via honest, joint efforts with Afghanistan.
More than 22,941 civilians were killed and over 40,993 others injured from January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016 according to the report.
At least 111 civilians, 85 of them women or children, were killed or wounded by Afghan helicopters and warplanes. Global troops in the country accounted for two percent and 17 percent could not be attributed, the report said.
“The full extent of the harm and limitations imposed on the Afghan people to realize all their inter-related human rights due to the conflict are beyond the scope of this report”, UNAMA states.
Advertisement
“UNAMA therefore reiterates its call for a fully independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation of the airstrike on the [Doctors Without Borders] hospital”, the report said.
