Afghan violence tallied on eve of Persian New Year

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The solar year 1398, ending this evening, saw more than 10,846 civilians, including women and children, killed and injured, according to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

The attack on the Dubai wedding hall was one of the deadliest incidents this solar year in Kabul, with more than 80 civilians, including women and children, killed, and more than 180 injured.

Other incidents included:

Insurgent attack on Counterpart International, an international organization in Kabul.

Car bomb attack in PD6, Kabul.

Car bomb attack on GardaWorld, a foreign security company.

Attack on Green Trend office, a political movement run by former NDS chief and vice-presidential candidate AmrullahSaleh.

Attack near the Ministry of Defense’s buildings in PD9.

Car bomb attack on Green Village compound, a residential area for foreign nationals.

Suicide attack at the gate of the Marshal Fahim National Defense University.

Attack on Ashraf Ghani’s electoral campaign in Parwan province.

Attack on the Kandahar police chief.

Car bomb attack in Shashdarak area of Kabul where one US soldier was killed and which led to the halt of the peace talks between the US and Taliban. “Explosions and suicide attacks were very high, and the civilian and military casualties were also very high,” said AttiqullahAmarkhail, former military officer.

But the government claimed they had made gains against insurgents. The Ministry of Defense said that in addition to launching dozens of military operations, re-capturing ten districts from the Taliban has been one of the most important military missions.

“Over the past solar year, the Taliban were prevented from overtaking government-controlled areas, while the Afghan army succeeded in bringing 50 percent of the country’s territory under their (government) control,” said Asadullah Khalid, acting defense minister.

“Nine districts have been cleared of opposition, there has been a decline in national and local police casualties, we’ve arrested 20,000 criminals and eliminated three large drug caches—these are the achievements,” said Tariq Aryan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

The IHRC said there has been a three percent decrease in violence over the past solar year, but it was still one of Afghanistan’s bloodiest years.

The commission said that in this year 10,846 civilians killed and wounded.

According to the commission, among 10,846 killed and wounded, more than 2,797 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 8,049 were injured in various incidents this year.

“This year was undoubtedly a bloody year for the Afghan people and for one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, judging by civilian casualties,” said NaeemNazari, NaeemNazari, commissioner at the human rights commission.

The latest deadly attack was on Abdul Ali Mazari’s 25th commemoration anniversary ceremony in west of Kabul in which 32 people were killed and 81 were injured.

Afghanistan experienced a 7-day reduction in violence before the peace deal was signed between the US and Taliban, but since then fighting has resumed.(TOLOnews)