QASED Non-government Research Organization
(Issue No: 30)
Note: You can download the PDF format of the report from here.
Preface
This report covers the casualties of the ongoing war, occurred in different parts of the country during November 29 – December 5, 2019. Overall, 439 people have been killed or wounded this week (291 killed and 148 wounded).
According to the report’s figures, the total death toll due to the ongoing war in the country shows an increase compared to last week. Last week, 382 people were killed and wounded across the country; but this week, the number has risen to 439.
The death toll for Afghan forces has increased almost twice as much as last week. The deadliest incidents occurred in Baghlan, Kunduz and Faryab provinces this week, in which at least 25 Afghan soldiers were killed and 16 others were injured.
The number of civilian casualties also increased compared to last week. Civilians were killed in airstrikes by foreign forces, Afghan forces’ operations, and Taliban attacks. The deadliest attack took place in Khost province, where an American drone struck a car and killed six civilians.
The death toll among the anti-government’s armed militants is also showing a slight rise this week. Also this week, the head of a Japanese charity company, Tetsu Nakamura, and five Afghan workers were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen, yet no one claimed responsibility for the attack.
You will read in this report the details of casualties of the Afghan government forces, anti-government armed militants, Afghan civilians, and foreign forces, as well as analysis of the most important security incidents and the security situation in the country in last part.
Afghan Forces’ Casualties
November 29:
Taliban militants killed two border soldiers in Chinboz Kol area of Sher Khan Port of Kunduz province.
Taliban militants attacked the center of Mangajik district in Jawzjan province, killing an Afghan soldier.
Three police officers who were on their way to Badakhshan province were killed by Taliban in Lodin area of Kunduz city.
November 30:
In an explosion of a roadside bomb in Marja district of Helmand province, Gen. Zahirgul Moqbil, commander of the 4th Brigade of border forces was killed and two other soldiers along with a reporter were wounded.
Seven security personnel, two of them soldiers and five local policemen, were killed and two others injured in attacks by Taliban militants on security outposts in the outskirts of Gozriwan district, Faryab province.
Taliban attacked an Afghan army outpost in Sholgara district of Balkh province, killing one of its soldiers.
December 01:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Bagh-e-Miri area of the center of Kunduz province, 11 Afghan soldiers have been killed and six others wounded.
Taliban attacked Murdian District center in Jowzjan province, killing four members of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, and wounding three others.
A policeman was killed and two others were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Nadir Shahikot district of Khost province.
Taliban militants attacked National Directorate of Security in Baharak district of Takhar province, killing the deputy district governor and a local policeman.
Taliban attacked Sherin Tagab district center in Faryab province, killing one soldier and injuring another soldier and a local policeman.
Taliban fighters shot and killed a local policeman at the top of an outpost in Sayyad district center of Sar-e-Pul province.
December 02:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Belcheragh district of Faryab province, two security forces were killed and four others were wounded.
Three members of National Directorate of Security (NDS) were killed and two others were injured in an attack by unknown gunmen in Yaka-tot area of the Ninth Police District of Kabul city.
In Samangan province, a local police commander was killed by his colleague and a national policeman was killed during an attack by unknown gunmen.
Taliban militants attacked a security outpost in Khwaja Bahauddin district of Takhar province, killing three soldiers and wounding four others.
A border police was killed in an attack by unknown gunman in Islam Qala border area of Kohsan district of Herat province.
Taliban fighters attacked the home of Sayad district’s governor in Sar-e-Pul province, injuring two policemen.
December 03:
A local policeman has been killed and four others injured in an attack of Taliban in Laman area of Qala-i-Naw city of Badghis province.
Taliban militants attacked a local police outpost in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province, killing three local policemen and one ANA soldier and wounding eight others.
December 04:
Five policemen were killed in a Taliban attack on the house of district police chief in Bala Balak district of Farah province.
The police recruitment assistant and his son were killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen in Helmand province’s central city, Lashkar Gah.
In Bagh-e-Shamal area of Pul-e-Khumri city of Baghlan province, Taliban attacked checkpoints of Afghan forces, killing four soldiers and three local policemen and injuring eight others.
A policeman was killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban militants in Amberkoh area of Barak district of Takhar province.
A police officer has been killed in a roadside bomb blast in the 6th Police District of Kandahar city.
December 05:
A policeman was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in the 12th Police District of Kandahar city.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 28 | 21 |
49 |
|
Police |
38 | 28 | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 49 |
115 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
November 29:
A local Taliban commander has been killed in a drone strike in Alah Sai district of Kapisa province.
Five Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Nawrak area of Qalat city, Zabul province.
Five Taliban members have been killed in an attack by foreign troops in Zakir Rabat and Ramak areas of Deh-yak district of Ghazni province.
Three Taliban militants were killed in an airstrike in Chak district of Maidan Wardak province. Also, two militants were killed in airstrikes in Marja district of Helmand province and Zazai district of Paktika province.
An armed clash erupted between Afghan forces and Taliban in the center of Mangajik district of Jawzjan province, killing four Taliban including an important member of the group and injuring four others.
November 30:
Two Taliban fighters were killed and three others were injured in a military operation by Afghan forces in outskirts of Ghazni city.
13 Taliban militants were killed and 15 others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Shahwalikot district of Kandahar province. Also in Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, four militants were killed.
Four militants have been killed in an attack by Afghan National Army (ANA) troops in Sabzak and Chinaab districts of Uruzgan province.
Eight Taliban militants were killed and two others were injured in their own mine blast in Braki-Barak district of Logar province.
Seven Taliban militants were killed in a joint operation in Najrab district of Kapisa province.
Eight Taliban militants were killed in an airstrike in the bazar of Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
Four Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and the Taliban in Faryab province’s Gozrizwan and Khwaja Sabzposh districts.
Two Taliban militants were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Sholgara district of Balkh province.
December 01:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Bagh-Miri area of the center of Kunduz province, six Taliban fighters were killed and five others were injured.
In Jowin district of Farah province, nine Taliban militants were killed and six others were injured in an attack by Afghan forces.
19 Taliban militants, including two important members, were killed and seven others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Murdian district of Jawzjan province.
Three insurgents were killed and another was wounded in an operation by Afghan forces in Pashtun Zarghon district of Herat province.
Seven ISIS militants were killed in an attack by foreign troops in Achin district of Nangarhar province.
December 02:
Three Taliban fighters were killed and another was injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dap-Kotal area of Shinkai district of Zabul province.
Three important members of Taliban were killed in an attack by Afghan commando forces in Zawal district of Herat province.
Four Taliban militants were killed and two others were injured in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Hewad area of Balkh district of Balkh province.
Seven Taliban insurgents were killed and five others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and militants in Belcheragh district of Faryab province.
Two Taliban militants were killed in an airstrike in Pusht-Rud district of Farah province.
Four Taliban militants were killed in an armed clash between militants and Afghan forces in Laman area of Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province.
December 03:
Three Taliban militants were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Jaldak district of Zabul province.
10 Taliban militants were killed in a series of night raids in Taloka area of Kunduz city.
December 04:
An airstrike in Chaman Khan Abad area of Chaharbulak district of Balkh province has killed four Taliban militants, including an important Taliban commander. Also, nine Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Sarmorgg-Aab area of Tirinkot city, the capital of Uruzgan province.
As a result of military operations in Arghandab and Shajoy districts of Zabul province, 15 militants were killed and 21 others were injured.
Table 2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 173 | 80 |
253 |
|
ISIS |
7 | – | 7 |
| Total | 180 | 80 |
260 |
Civilian Casualties
November 29:
Six civilians were killed in a US drone strike in Maton district of Khost province. The targeted car was carrying a woman who had just given birth. The driver, the mother and her son, and three of her relatives were all killed.
Three children were killed and another was injured in a mortar explosion in Hasan-khel area of Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
Taliban militants attacked a house of a man named Mohammad Sediq in Shahrak district of Ghor province, where as a result, the man was killed.
Taliban militants abducted a teacher, his two sons and another guest in Doshi area of Kelgi district in Baghlan province, later on, killed them.
November 30:
A journalist was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Marjah district of Helmand province along with security forces.
December 01:
Taliban militants attacked the house of Sayyad district’s chief in Sar-e-Pul province, killing three of his family members and injuring three others.
Two civilians, a father and his son, were killed in a night raid by Afghan special forces in Achin district of Nangarhar province.
In Awraq area of Kohistan district of Sar-e-Pul province, two civilians were killed and five others were injured in firing by Taliban militants in response to their rejection of a request by Taliban to relocate a local bazar.
A civilian was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Nadir Shahikot district of Khost province along with policemen.
December 02:
Three civilians, including two students, have been killed by Taliban militants in Uruzgan province’s Dehrawood district.
Taliban militants attacked the house of Sayad’s district chief in Sar-e-Pul province, killing the chief’s brother and his son.
December 04:
Three civilians were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Qala Sarasang area of Ferozkoh city of Ghor province.
Three civilians were killed in a roadside mine blast in Kharaba area of Nawa district of Helmand province.
The house of police chief of Balabulok district of Farah province was attacked by armed militants, killing three members of his family.
Five Afghan workers of a Japanese charity company have been killed along the head of the company in an attack by unknown gunmen in the first Police District of Jalalabad city.
In addition to the death of police recruitment deputy in Lashkar Gah city of Helmand province, his son was also killed in an attack by unknown gunmen.
A civilian was killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.
December 05:
Two civilians were killed in a Taliban rocket attack in Sherin Tagab district of Faryab province and eight more were injured in similar attacks in Qaisar and Dawlatabad districts.
Table 3: Civilian Casualties
| Name | Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 44 | 19 | 63 |
| Total | 44 | 19 | 63 |
Foreigners’ Casualties
December 04:
A Japanese charity company’s head, Tetsu Nakamura, was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen In the first Police District of Jalalabad city,.
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 439 people have been killed and injured (291 of them were killed and 148 wounded) from 29 November – 05 December 2019.
The total number of casualties in this week has increased compared to last week. On the Afghan government’s side, 36 Afghan security forces were killed last week; but this week the number almost doubled and reached 66. The death toll among the anti government armed militants is also showing an increase compared to last week. Last week, 164 armed militants were killed, but this week, 180 Taliban and ISIS militants were killed in different parts of the country. Civilian casualties have also risen over the past week. Last week, the civilian death toll was 36, but this week the number has risen to 44.
This week once again, civilians have been killed in their houses during night operations of Afghan special forces in the east of the country. The incident took place on December 1st in Achin district of Nangarhar province, and the victims were members of a family (son and father). People in the area staged a protest in response to the incident and demanded the government to prosecute the killers. In a similar incident, four young brothers were killed in their home in Jalalabad city about two months ago, causing widespread reactions both inside and outside the country. In connection to similar incidents, a few weeks ago, the International Human Rights Watch criticized the Afghan government in its report that CIA-backed Afghan forces have been responsible for extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, indiscriminate airstrikes, attacks on medical facilities, and other violations of international humanitarian law, or the laws of war.
Earlier this week, an airstrike by US forces in Khost province also targeted a civilian vehicle, killing six civilians. The targeted car was carrying a woman, who had just given birth and was on her way to home with her family members, as a result, five family members and the driver of the vehicle were killed. In addition to the civilian casualties in heavy explosions by Taliban, civilian casualties in night operations and airstrikes by Afghan and foreign troops are high. Despite the widespread reactions, there has no any constructive action taken. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) also condemned the attack in a statement and called for a comprehensive investigation of such incidents. Last week, an airstrike of foreign troops killed ten civilians in Farah province.
On the other hand, a Japanese charity company leader, Tetsu Nakamura, and five Afghan employees of the company were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Jalalabad city. The incident also had widespread reactions across the country. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Taliban in particular have denied involvement in the attack. Such targeted attacks have been occurring in urban and secure areas in the country, but the Afghan government has failed to identify who is behind such attacks.
Despite the increase in war casualties this week, the US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace arrived in Kabul and left for Qatar after meetings with Afghan officials. Although the US President Donald Trump’s announcement of resumption of talks with the Taliban has made Afghans optimistic about peace efforts, the efforts have not yet had a positive impact on the battlefield. Every day, dozens of Afghans fall victim to this conflict.
Qased Strategic Research Center as a war casualties’ monitoring organization in the country emphasizes that the ongoing bloodshed and bloody situation in the country is possible to stop only through the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and peace with the Taliban. Therefore, we call on international and Afghan stakeholders to focus on peace efforts, rather than focusing on the battlefield.
Table 4: Total Casualties of War and Security Incidents:
|
Name |
Killed | Name | Wounded |
| Afghan Forces | 66 | Afghan Forces |
49 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
180 | Anti-government Militants | 80 |
| Civilians | 44 | Civilians |
19 |
|
Foreign Forces |
1 | Foreign Forces | – |
|
Total |
291 | Total |
148 |
|
Total Casualties 439 |
|||
The end
