CPAG wants Taliban to prevent civilian casualties

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 261 civilians were killed and 524 others injured in 19 provinces of the country in August, the Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG) said on Saturday.

About 82 people were killed and 212 wounded in southern Ghazni after rebels stormed the city last month. The government blamed the Taliban for civilian casualties.

But as usual, the insurgents accused the security forces for the collateral damage. Earlier, the government had put the toll at 300.

During the period, Kabul saw most of casualties, with 69 killed and 95 others wounded in a suicide assault on an education centre in the Dasht-i-Barchi area of the capital Kabul.

A suicide bomb attack inside a mosque in southeastern Paktia province killed 29 individuals and wounded 54 others.

CPAC once again called upon all warring parties to stop killing civilians. The group urged the United Nations and the US to accelerate efforts to help prevent civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

Last month, the group said, 542 civilians suffered casualties -- 232 martyred and 313 injured.

Pr/sa/mud