QASED Non-government Research Organization
(Issue No: 25)
Note: You can download the PDF format of the report from here.
Preface
This report covers the casualties of the ongoing war, which have been occurred in different areas of the county during October 25 – 31, 2019. Overall, 610 people have been killed or wounded this week (417 have been killed and 193 have been wounded).
According to the report’s figures, the death toll for all casualties in this week has increased compared to last week. Last week, 502 people were killed and wounded across the country; but this week, 610 people were killed and wounded. The bloodiest incident in this week for Afghan forces was in Aqcha district of Jowzjan province, where at least 24 Afghan security forces were killed. Although the number of civilian casualties was lower than last week, still the number was high, where more civilian casualties were reported due to bomb blasts. On the other side, the government’s armed opposition has suffered heavy casualties due to airstrikes by Afghan and foreign forces compared to the past few weeks.
Going forward through the report, details and exact figures of the casualties’ of the Afghan government forces, anti-government armed militants, civilians, and foreign forces can be found in separate titles.
Afghan Forces’ Casualties
October 25:
The commander of the 3rd ANA Kandak (Battalion) was shot and killed by one of his soldiers in Sar-e-Pul province.
A National Directorate of Security (NDS) official was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Qalat, the capital of Zabul province.
Two policemen were killed and two others injured in a bomb blast in the Fourth Police District of Jalalabad city, the provincial capital.
Three soldiers were killed and six others injured were injured in a suicide attack on National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces (unit 02) in Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province.
In the Ashmukash district of Takhar province, Taliban militants attacked security outposts, killing ten police special forces and pro-government militia members and injuring ten others.
A bomb exploded on a police car in Panjwai district of Kandahar province, killing one policeman.
Taliban militants attacked a security post in Dand district of Kandahar province, killing one policeman and injuring three others.
A policeman was shot and killed by unknown motorcycle-riding gunmen in the 6th Police District of Kandahar city.
Taliban militants attacked a military base in the Timurk area of Charbolak district of Balkh province, killing one Afghan soldier and wounding two others.
October 26:
The police chief of Dehrawaood district and his bodyguard were injured in a suicide attack in the bazar of the district in Uruzgan province.
Taliban militants attacked security outposts in Charkh-Aab area of Nahrin district of Baghlan province, killing eight local and national policemen and wounding six others.
Taliban militants attacked a security outpost in Dand district of Kandahar province, killing one policeman and injuring three others. Another policeman was killed in a roadside bomb blast in Panjwayee district of Kandahar province.
October 27:
Gunmen attacked a market in Zari district of Balkh province, killing one policeman.
Taliban militants have killed a pro-government militia member in Bezgak area of Faizabad district of Jawzjan province.
Taliban militants attacked security outposts in the outskirts of Chahar-Dara district of Kunduz province, killing six Afghan soldiers.
October 28:
Taliban militants have attacked security outposts in Balkh province’s Kushanda district, killing two local policemen and injuring four others.
A policeman was killed and another injured in a clash between police and unknown gunmen in the Third Police District of Kandahar city.
Two pro-government militants have been killed in a Taliban attack in the Khushkak area of Jelga district of Baghlan province.
Taliban militants attacked a market in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province, killing one Afghan soldier and wounding two others.
October 29:
In the Balahesar area of Aqcha district of Jawzjan province, armed militants attacked Afghan forces, killing 20 ANA soldiers and 4 policemen, and injuring five ANA soldiers and five policemen.
A commando soldier has been killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
A retired ANA soldier riding a motorcycle in Herat city was shot and killed by unknown gunmen.
Gunmen opened fire on a police car in the Fourth Police District of Kandahar City, killing one policeman and injuring another.
October 30:
Taliban militants attacked security outposts in Khanabad district of Kunduz province, killing five soldiers and wounding two policemen.
In an armed clash between armed men and police in Bagh-e-Zubaida area of Seventh Police District of Herat city, killing two policemen.
Taliban militants attacked an Afghan security outpost in Naderabad area of Souzama Qala district of Sar-e-Pul province, killing one pro-government soldier and one national security soldier and injuring four policemen.
Two policemen were killed and four others were injured in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in the Kasian area of Ferozkoh city, Ghor province.
Taliban militants attacked a car in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, injuring three policemen.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 36 | 9 |
45 |
|
Police |
47 | 56 | 103 |
| Total | 83 | 65 |
148 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
October 25:
A senior Taliban commander has been killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in the Zarghoon Shar area of Mohammad Agha district of Logar province.
25 Taliban militants were killed and 12 others wounded in ground and airstrikes by Afghan forces in the Kishk Rabat Sangi district of Herat province.
Five militants were killed and three others were injured in an armed clash between police and Taliban militants in Dand district of Kandahar province.
Taliban militants attacked a military base in the Timurk area of Charbolak district of Balkh province, as a result, two Taliban militants were killed.
12 Taliban fighters were killed in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Ashkamish district of Takhar province.
October 26:
12 Taliban fighters, including a Taliban shadow district chief for Qarqin district, were killed and eight others were injured in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Mardian district of Jawzjan province.
Nine militants were killed and five others were injured in an ANA operation in Mizani district of Zabul province. Also, in operation of ANA in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province, three Taliban fighters were killed and five others were injured.
Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Pashtunkot district of Faryab province, which was later targeted by the Air Forces, resulted in the killing of 53 Taliban militants and wounding 11 others.
33 Taliban fighters were killed and eight others were injured in airstrikes by US forces in Kandahar province’s Maroof and Shahwalikot districts.
Four militants were killed in an airstrike in the Garo area of Paktika province.
Four Taliban members were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Nahrin district of Baghlan province.
October 27:
11 Taliban militants were killed in airstrikes by Afghan forces in Karez and Kalashmir areas of Maiwand district of Kandahar province. Also, three Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in the Afghan National Army (ANA) operations in Arghandab district of Zabul province.
Taliban militants attacked a market in Zari district of Balkh province, in which three Taliban fighters were also killed.
Four militants were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Gulo Khel and Khanwan areas of Zarmala district of Paktia province.
In the Chakmaq area of Pashtunkot district of Faryab province, Afghan National Army troops attacked the hideouts of the Taliban, resulted in the killing of six Taliban members and wounding eight others.
October 28:
Two militants were killed in an armed clash between unknown gunmen and police in the Third Police District of Kandahar city.
Three Taliban militants were killed and two others were injured in a bomb blast inside a mosque in the Sheshkhel area of Andar district of Ghazni province.
Two Taliban fighters were killed and three others were injured in a joint operation by Afghan forces in Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.
October 29:
A drone strike killed five ISIS militants in Haska Mena district of Nangarhar province.
A drone strike in Momandara district of Nangarhar province killed four Taliban militants.
Four Taliban fighters were killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
A Taliban militant was killed and two others were injured in a joint operation by Afghan forces in Jahanzib Camp, Mohajer Bazaar and Sur Gudar areas of Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.
October 30:
11 militants were killed in an operation by Afghan forces in Gizab district of Uruzgan province.
27 Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Chaghcharan district and other areas of Ghor province.
15 Taliban militant was killed and 14 others were injured when a roadside bomb exploded in Yangee Erig village of Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
28 Taliban militants were killed in clashes between Taliban and Afghan forces in Nadar Abad area of Souzama Qala district of Sar-e-Pul province.
October 31:
Three Taliban members were killed in Afghan Forces’ night raid in Said Abad district of Maidan Wardak Province.
Table 2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 290 | 84 |
374 |
|
ISIS |
5 | – | 5 |
| Total | 295 | 84 |
379 |
Civilian Casualties
October 25:
Four civilians were injured in a bomb blast on a police vehicle in Fourth Police District of Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province.
On the same day, two civilians were killed and 15 others injured due to a suicide attack on NDS forces (unit 02) in the Fourth Police District of Jalalabad city.
Two civilians were killed in a roadside mine blast in the Nazarkhan area of Andar district of Ghazni province.
October 26:
A prosecutor was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Lashkargah city of Helmand province.
October 27:
Pakistani forces have attacked Doklam area of Nari district of Kunar province, killing three women and injuring four others, including children.
Eight children were killed and one injured in a mine blast in Pashtunkot district of Faryab province.
Taliban militants attacked an army outpost in the Bala Hissar area of Aqcha district of Jawzjan province, killing one civilian along with Afghan forces.
October 28:
In Herat city, a suicide bomber wanted to enter a Shiite mosque called Imam Hadi and detonate his explosives, but he was identified by police and detonated the explosives which killed a civilian and injured eight others.
Two civilians were killed and five others were injured when a mine exploded at a school in Metran area of Kot district of Nangarhar province.
A civilian’s vehicle was stopped by police in Dahna-e-Aab area of Balkh-Aab district of Sar-e-Pul province and later fired at, killing one civilian and injuring another.
October 29:
A roadside bomb hit a civilian car in Marani area of Mizani district of Zabul province, killing three civilians and injuring three others.
Writer and political analyst, Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, was injured in an attack by unknown gunmen in Kabul city.
October 30:
Two civilians were killed in a roadside bomb blast in the Yangi Erig village of Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
Three civilians were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in 7th Police District of Herat city.
Taliban militants attacked a vehicle of local authorities in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, killing a driver.
October 31:
Seven civilians were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
A civilian was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Arghandab district of Kandahar province.
In another incident, a civilian was shot and killed while driving in Kandahar city.
A car driver who was transporting cattle has been shot dead by a policeman in Kakarano China area of Zabul province.
Table 3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 39 | 43 |
82 |
|
Total |
39 | 43 |
82 |
Foreign Forces’ Casualties
October 31:
An American soldier has been injured in a roadside bomb blast in the Sargaz area of Dand district of Kandahar province.
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 610 people have been killed and injured (417 of them were killed and 193 wounded) from 25 – 31 October 2019.
The number of fighting parties’ casualties has increased this week, but civilian casualties have dropped compared to last week. On the Afghan government’s side, 74 Afghan security forces were killed last week; however, this week the number has increased to 83. The death toll for armed opposition of the government has risen again over the past few weeks. Last week, 147 armed militants were killed, but this week, 295 Taliban and ISIS militants were killed in different parts of the country. On the other hand, the death toll for civilians is declining compared to last week. Last week, the civilian death toll was 108, but this week the number has dropped to 39.
The death toll for the government’s armed opposition has increased more than doubled compared to last week, with the highest number of casualties caused by airstrikes by Afghan and foreign troops. According to the US Department of Defense statistics, US forces launched 1113 airstrikes in different provinces of Afghanistan last month of September, with an average of about 40 attacks per day. US military airstrikes have risen to 810 in August; however, this month, the attacks have increased and have led to an overall increase in casualties in the country. The MoD has welcomed US airstrikes on Afghan soil. The Afghan Ministry of Defense welcomes such attacks where civilian targets are also targeted in these attacks, and as a result, civilian casualties have increased.
The escalation of airstrikes by US forces on Afghan soil and increased casualties of the government’s armed opposition has often been attributed to the failure of US-Taliban peace talks. Although, the Afghan government is pleased with the intensity of the battlefield and the escalation of attacks by US forces, however, it is one of the factors in which the security situation in the country can be more bloody; and given the past 18 years, such pressures will have no positive impacts on the security situation.
In this bloody war situation, the vast majority of Afghans still hope for peace and emphasize on peace rather than military pressure. The Afghan government has once again presented a new peace plan for peace talks with the Taliban; but on one hand, the plan is like expressing only hopes and, on the other hand, the leaders of the National Unity Government are not united. Chief Executive, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, said in a recent statement that strong intentions for peace are needed instead of making plans. In addition, the government still insists on a peace dialogue under its leadership, something the Taliban still does not want and wants to negotiate with the United States to withdraw foreign troops from Afghanistan.
Qased Strategic Research Centre as a war casualties’ monitoring organization in the country emphasizes that military pressures are not the way forward to the current bloody situation in the country, but there is need to resume negotiations between the US and Taliban and reach a conclusion, and besides facilitating the way to the intra-Afghan talks.
Table 4: Total Casualties of War and Security Incidents
|
Name |
Killed | Name | Wounded |
| Afghan Forces | 83 | Afghan Forces |
65 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
295 | Anti-government Militants | 84 |
| Civilians | 39 | Civilians |
43 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | 1 |
| Total | 417 | Total |
193 |
|
Total Casualties 610 |
|||
The end
