Taliban reject UN report as flawed, unilateral

KABUL.

On Thursday, the UN mission said more civilians were killed in July than in any previous one-month period since it started keeping statistics.

For the first time this year, the report said, insurgents were responsible for more casualties than US and pro-government forces.

The report said 2,563 civilians were killed and 5,676 wounded in the first nine months of this year. Insurgents were blamed for 62 percent of the casualties.

In reaction, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the UNAMA report tended to exaggerate the casualties caused by the militant movement.

“We reject the UN report on civilian casualties as flawed and unilateral,” the Taliban spokesman said, blaming the US forces for targeting common people, civilian homes, markets and installations.

In a statement, Mujahid accused the US troops of dropping 968 bombs on Afghan villages and cities last month.

“The reason why UNAMA itself is declaring that civilian casualties have reached an all-time high is because American airstrikes and raids on civilian homes have increased.”

Under pressure from Americans, he alleged, the UN mission dropped the principle of impartiality in documenting civilian casualties and hiding crimes of US forces.

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