Afghanistan:Civilian casualties main cause of resentment, rebellion
Kuna
The increasing number of civilian casualties in anti-Taliban operations by the Afghan and coalition forces, mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan, is spreading resentment against the government and foreign forces among Afghans.
The recent example of such reported casualties was claimed by an Afghan member of the parliament. He said majority of the people killed in coalition bombing in Helmand were civilians.
At the same time, Afghan President Hamid Karzai had also ordered a probe in last week's bombing in the province. This is the second time the president orders a probe into such incidents.
Earlier, in an attack in Panjwai district, the president issued strict warning, saying 'civilian casualties are not acceptable.' From the deadly collision involving US military vehicles in Kabul in the month of May to the recent bombing in the Tarinkowt district of Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province and areas of Helmand, every incident, though inadvertent, is increasing the anger among Afghans who are already frustrated due to the prevailing lawlessness, unemployment and non-availability of basic facilities of life.
Although the coalition forces said they killed 40 Taliban insurgents as a result of air strikes in Uruzgan, reports from the affected areas suggested civilian casualties in the attack.
The number of dead and injured last week's (Monday) strikes was said to be around 100.
Reports of civilian casualties emerged when several injured people were brought to the Kandahar province for treatment. The wounded included women and children.
Haji Fida was among those who had come to Kandahar along with an injured woman. Revealing his ordeal, Fida said his four relatives, including two young nephews, brother-in-law, and his daughter-in-law, were killed in the air strikes.
Ten houses were fully destroyed with a number of dead people, said the 75-year-old.
Analyzing the situation in light of the recent bombing and alleged civilian casualties, member of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga or National Assembly Haji Khaleeq said the coalition forces, welcomed by the majority of Afghans as savior when they landed here in 2001, were now losing trust and confidence with Afghans. Read more
The increasing number of civilian casualties in anti-Taliban operations by the Afghan and coalition forces, mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan, is spreading resentment against the government and foreign forces among Afghans.
The recent example of such reported casualties was claimed by an Afghan member of the parliament. He said majority of the people killed in coalition bombing in Helmand were civilians.
At the same time, Afghan President Hamid Karzai had also ordered a probe in last week's bombing in the province. This is the second time the president orders a probe into such incidents.
Earlier, in an attack in Panjwai district, the president issued strict warning, saying 'civilian casualties are not acceptable.' From the deadly collision involving US military vehicles in Kabul in the month of May to the recent bombing in the Tarinkowt district of Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province and areas of Helmand, every incident, though inadvertent, is increasing the anger among Afghans who are already frustrated due to the prevailing lawlessness, unemployment and non-availability of basic facilities of life.
Although the coalition forces said they killed 40 Taliban insurgents as a result of air strikes in Uruzgan, reports from the affected areas suggested civilian casualties in the attack.
The number of dead and injured last week's (Monday) strikes was said to be around 100.
Reports of civilian casualties emerged when several injured people were brought to the Kandahar province for treatment. The wounded included women and children.
Haji Fida was among those who had come to Kandahar along with an injured woman. Revealing his ordeal, Fida said his four relatives, including two young nephews, brother-in-law, and his daughter-in-law, were killed in the air strikes.
Ten houses were fully destroyed with a number of dead people, said the 75-year-old.
Analyzing the situation in light of the recent bombing and alleged civilian casualties, member of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga or National Assembly Haji Khaleeq said the coalition forces, welcomed by the majority of Afghans as savior when they landed here in 2001, were now losing trust and confidence with Afghans. Read more
posted by exoplanet at 11:24 AM
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