UN says Afghan, NATO forces responsible for more civilian deaths than Taliban, other militants in first quarter of 2019.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Human Rights Director Richard Bennett speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April. 24, 2019. Afghan and international forces have killed more civilians in the war with the Taliban and other militants in the first three months of this year, the first time deaths caused by government forces and their allies have exceeded those of their enemies, a new U.N. report said Wednesday.
The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported Wednesday that 581 civilians were killed between Jan. 1 and March 31, with Afghan forces and NATO responsible for 305 of those deaths. The insurgents were responsible for wounding more civilians than the coalition forces, the report said. More than 50% of the civilians killed were women and children, said Richard Bennett, UNAMA’s human rights director.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this year urged his ground forces to take greater care to protect civilian lives while conducting search operations. But the Taliban have refused to negotiate directly with Ghani’s government, even as they hold talks with a U.S. peace envoy. Talks that were to start last week in Qatar with the Taliban and an array of prominent Afghans, including government officials and opposition representatives, were scuttled after a falling-out between the two sides over who should attend.“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of accuracy and accountability.
“It’s not just my family, there are dozens of families just like mine who have been lost in bombings,” Rahman told The Associated Press this week. “The people have no power. ... We are the ones who are dying.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Afghan Peace Talks Abruptly Stall After Taliban Object to Guest ListA landmark meeting between the Taliban and senior Afghan political figures to be held in Qatar has been postponed over the insurgency’s objections to a list of attendees prepared by the Afghan government.
Read more »
Taliban-Afghan talks derailed over delegate rowThe Taliban-Afghan talks which was due to take place in Doha this weekend, fell apart at the last minute in a row over the large number of delegates Kabul wanted to send.
Read more »
Talks between Afghan leaders and Taliban insurgents canceledOrganizers in Qatar called off the talks amid disputes over the size and composition of the Afghan government’s delegation, setting back hopes for peace in Afghanistan.
Read more »
Talks between Afghan leaders and Taliban canceled, in setback to U.S.-led peace processOrganizers called off the talks amid disputes over the size and composition of the Afghan government’s delegation.
Read more »
Fears grow Trump will abandon Afghan women to the TalibanThe relative dearth of U.S. politicians speaking out has some activists fearing that Trump will compromise with the Taliban in ways that will threaten the gains Afghan women have made since 2001
Read more »
Taliban meets with women’s rights activists, others after talks with Afghan officials collapseAbout 20 Afghan emigres from Europe and the United States, including three women, privately met Taliban representatives in Qatar, speaking for more than six hours.
Read more »
US, Afghan forces kill more civilians than militants do – UN reportThe bloody milestone comes as the US steps up its air campaign in Afghanistan while pushing for a peace deal with the Taliban, who now control or influence more parts of the country than at any time since they were ousted in 2001.
Read more »
For the first time in 17 years, Afghan leaders and the Taliban will actually try to talkMany in Afghanistan are hopeful about the talks, despite the Taliban announcement of a spring offensive.
Read more »
Explosion, gunfire rock Afghanistan's KabulThe attackers reportedly entered the Ministry of Communication and IT building near the fortified green area in the capital, a day after talks collapsed between Taliban and Afghan representatives.
Read more »