KABUL - The Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG) on Monday voiced concern over increasing civilian casualties in Afghanistan, denouncing last month’s deadly attacks.
CPAG members condemned the terrorist attacks in Paktia, Ghor and Kabul as inhuman acts, in which dozens of civilians were killed and wounded. It called on the warring parties to stop such attacks.
A CPAG report documented 435 casualties in October. 200 people were killed, including 11 children and 8 women, and another 235 were injured, including 16 women. Of 106 fatalities from suicide attacks, most were killed in Kabul, Ghor and Paktia.
21 civilians were killed in 14 gun attacks while at least 17 people lost their lives in 12 roadside bombings.
Another 14 civilians were killed in an airstrike by coalition forces in the Sawakai district of Kunar province. The CPAG team could not attribute responsibility for armed attacks, explosions and other terrorist attacks.
CPAG members express deep concern at the rising civilian casualties, requesting all communities to raise their voices to protest against warring parties fighting inside their villages. CPAG, which is comprised of 20 civil society group, urged the government and militants to observe international law and avoid civilian casualties.
Although the government has been trying to reduce the level of civilian casualties, in some areas, Afghan police and army have been accused of killing ordinary people. For example, seven members of a family were killed by a mortar shell in the Ghanikhel district of Nangarhar province at 12th of October. (Pajhwok)