KABUL (SW) – Statistics provided by the interior ministry on Tuesday suggest at least 300 civilians have been killed and 500 others injured since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told Salam Watandar that since the beginning of Ramadan, the Taliban have carried out 150 landmine explosions, 15 suicide attacks and 50 targeted assassinations in various parts of the country, especially in major cities.
According to him, as a result of the Taliban attacks, 300 civilians, including women, children and youth, were killed and more than 500 others were wounded. Arian said security forces have also suffered casualties as a result of clashes and Taliban attacks in the past month; but he did not provide statistics.
The Interior Ministry spokesman says the number of Taliban fighters killed has doubled this month.
- 330% increase in civilian casualties due to airstrikes
- UN documents 29 per cent rise in civilian casualties
According to him, several horrific Taliban attacks have been prevented this month, and dozens of planted mines have been discovered and defused by security forces.
The Independent Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has expressed its concerned about the increase in civilian casualties during Ramadan, saying it has recorded 130 incidents between the 1st and 25th of this month.
Reza Jafari, information officer of the IHRC, said that 160 civilians, including 9 women and 26 children, were killed and 351 others, including 130 children and 30 women, were injured as a result of the incidents.
He called for a permanent ceasefire as the only way to prevent civilian casualties and called on the warring parties to work for peace through dialogue.
ENDS
