Afghan civilian toll devastating, says HRW

KABUL demonstrated a blatant disregard for the laws of conflict and caused appalling civilian casualties last year, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

In the maiden edition of its annual report, the group alleged attacks by all parties to the conflict in 2019 took a devastating toll on civilians. Deaths from Afghan government and US operations exceeded those caused by the Taliban for the first time in the first half of 2019.

HRW accused the Taliban of conducting indiscriminate attacks, particularly before the September presidential elections, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.

Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at HRW, said: “However peace talks play out in 2020, the lives of ordinary Afghans will depend on the warring parties making a commitment to protect civilians and uphold human rights.”

Supported by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Afghan special forces carried out summary executions and enforced disappearances during so-called night raids, the rights watchdog claimed.

In one such raid on August 12, a special forces unit called 02, backed by CIA, summarily executed 11 men, most members of an extended family, in Nangarhar.

Although the Afghan government reduced torture in some detention facilities, it failed to hold security force members and prominent political figures accountable for abuses, including sexual assault.

The Taliban also carried out summary executions, torture and ill-treatment, including forced labour of captives.

PAN Monitor/mud