QASED Non-government Research Organization
(Issue No: 42_ 43)
Note: You can download the PDF format of the report from here.
Preface
This report covers the casualties of the ongoing war, which occurred in different parts of the country during February 21 – Mar 5, 2020. Overall, 472 people have been killed or wounded this week (299 have been killed and 173 others wounded).
According to the report’s figures, the death toll due to the ongoing war in the country has increased in the last two weeks compared to the previous week. Last week, 304 people were killed and injured across the country, but in the past two weeks, 472 people were killed and wounded.
The death toll among the government forces has increased compared to the previous week. The deadliest incidents have been reported in Kunduz, Logar, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, where at least 34 security forces were killed and 11 others were injured in attacks by insurgents.
Civilian casualty rates show a slight decline compared to the previous week. The deadliest incidents for civilians were reported in Khost, Kabul, Badghis and Zabul provinces, where at least 16 civilians were killed and 30 others injured.
On the other hand, the death toll for anti-government insurgents has also increased compared to the previous week.
You would read in this report the details of casualties of the Afghan government forces, anti-government armed militants, and Afghan civilians, as well as analysis of the important security incidents and the security situation in the country in last part of the report.
Afghan Forces’ Casualties
February 21:
A convoy of three parliamentarians was attacked in Paktia province in which a policeman was injured.
Taliban militants attacked the center of Khwaja Sabz Posh district of Faryab province, killing two ANA soldiers and wounding three others.
Taliban militants attacked the center of Sherin Tagab district of Faryab province, killing one policeman and injuring another.
February 22:
In the Zari district of Balkh province, armed Taliban attacked an Afghan forces’ outpost, killing two policemen and two ANA soldiers and wounding eight other security forces.
Taliban militants attacked a security outpost in Urozgan province’s Urozgan-Kandahar highway, killing one ANA soldier.
At least two ANA soldiers were killed and two others were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Tirinkot city, the center of Uruzgan province.
Two policemen were killed in an attack by armed Taliban in Chinarto district of Uruzgan province.
Armed Taliban abducted and killed two policemen who were travelling from Muqur district of Ghazni province to Noor Zakhil area of Qarabagh district.
February 23:
A policeman was killed by armed Taliban in Yangi Qala area of Chamtal district of Balkh province.
In the Chaharkant district of Balkh province, seven local policemen were killed and five others were injured in an attack by armed Taliban.
February 24:
Two border policemen were killed in a roadside mine blast in Jawand district of Farah province.
Two policemen, who were travelling from Kabul to Ghazni province, were killed by Taliban in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
Taliban militants attacked Chamtal district center of Balkh province, killing a policeman.
February 25:
An ANA soldier was killed and four others were injured in a roadside mine blast in Arghandab district of Zabul province.
Two ANA soldiers were killed and three others were injured in an armed Taliban attack in Baran Qala area of Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
February 26:
A policeman has been killed in a roadside mine blast in Asiab Khan area of Chamtal district of Balkh province.
A policeman was killed in a roadside mine blast in Khakrez district of Kandahar province.
A local policeman has been killed by Taliban militants in Moshki area of Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
February 27:
Two security personnel were injured in two security incidents in Shindand district of Herat province.
February 28:
A policeman was killed by an unknown gunman in Bazaar area of Shahjoy district of Zabul province.
February 29:
Three policemen were killed and another injured in a roadside bomb blast in Mianishin district of Kandahar province.
March 1:
A female policeman was killed by her young son who was a member of Taliban in the 11th Police District of Herat city.
March 2:
An Afghan commando soldier has been killed and another injured in an attack by Taliban in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province.
An ANA soldier was killed in a Taliban attack in Sherin Tagab district of Faryab province.
Armed Taliban attacked an outpost in Shahwalikot district of Kandahar province, killing one policeman.
Taliban militants opened fire on a police car in Narkh district of Wardak province, killing one policeman and injuring four others.
Two policemen were killed and four others injured in Taliban attacks in Helmand province’s Greshk, Nad Ali, Nawa and Sangin districts.
A policeman was killed and another person was injured in an attack by militants in the Ibrahimkhel area of Zurmat district of Paktia province.
March 3:
Three local policemen were killed and two local policemen and three ANA soldiers were injured in two separate security incidents in the district of Suzma Qala of Sar-e-Pul province.
In Washer district of Helmand province, armed Taliban attacked an Afghan forces’ outpost, killing two ANA soldiers and injuring another.
Deputy of the seventh Police District of Mazar-i-Sharif city was shot dead by Jawzjan police intelligence manager.
Three security personnel were killed and two others were injured in two security incidents on the highway of Sheberghan-Mazar and Sheberghan-Sar-i-pul highways.
A local policeman has been killed and another injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Dahna-i-Ghori district of Baghlan province.
Five policemen have been killed in an attack by Taliban in Batukhil and Hasankhel areas of Mohammad Agha district of Logar province.
An ANA soldier was killed by Taliban militants on Takhar-Kunduz highway in Kunduz province.
An ANA soldier was killed in a Taliban attack in Maimana city, Faryab province.
Taliban militants attacked the center of Almar district in Faryab province, killing two militant supporters and wounding another.
Taliban militants attacked a security post in Aziz Abad camp area of Zawul district of Herat province, killing one ANA soldier.
Two policemen were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Takhar-Kunduz highway in Akbar Khan area of Takhar province.
March 4:
An ANA soldier has been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province.
Nine Afghan policemen were killed and seven others were injured in an armed clash between Taliban and Afghan forces in the city of Tirinkot, the capital of Uruzgan province.
Taliban militants attacked Afghan forces’ outposts in the Bagh-i-Company area of Kunduz province, killing 15 ANA soldiers and injuring four others.
Four local policemen, one ANA soldier and one policeman were killed and two others were injured in a Taliban attack in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.
Two policemen were killed and four others were injured in a roadside mine blast in Nchin area of Tirinkot city of Uruzgan province.
Two policemen were killed in a Taliban attack in Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
A policeman was killed and another injured in an attack by armed Taliban in Kandahar province.
A policeman was gunned down by Taliban militants in Qalat city, the capital of Zabul province.
Taliban militants killed three pro-government militia members in Balkh districts of Balkh province.
A local policeman was gunned down by armed Taliban in Farah province.
In Jalrez district of Wardak province, a policeman who was travelling from Daikundi province to Kabul province was killed by Taliban.
Two government-backed militants were killed in a clash in Aqa Masjid area of Baharak district of Takhar province.
In Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province, armed Taliban attacked a post of Afghan forces, killing three border policemen and injuring two others.
Gunmen attacked a security checkpoint in Kunduz City, killing three policemen.
March 5:
Taliban militants attacked border police in Chehel Dokhran area of Gulran district of Herat province, killing one policeman.
Taliban militants attacked an Afghan post at Sayad district of Sar-e-Pul province, killing two policemen and injuring another.
Six policemen were killed and another injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Shahr-i-Safa district of Zabul province.
An unknown gunman shot dead a policeman near the third security district of Kandahar province.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 34 | 18 |
52 |
|
Police |
91 | 54 | 145 |
| Total | 125 | 72 |
197 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
February 21:
Nine Taliban militants were killed and 13 others injured in an airstrike by Afghan forces in the center of Sar-e-Pul province.
Six Taliban militants were killed and three others were injured in attacks by Afghan forces in Sufi Qala and Noor Ali areas of Qaisar district of Faryab province.
February 22:
Four Taliban insurgents were killed and 12 others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Qadis district of Badghis province.
February 23:
12 ISIS militants have been killed and three others wounded in the operation of NDS in Nijrab district of Kapisa province.
Three armed Taliban were killed and six others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces.
February 25:
ISIS militant’s deputy governor and military officials were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province.
February 26:
Seven Taliban militants were killed in their mine blast in Yulbladi area of Daulatabad district of Balkh province.
Two Taliban militants have been killed and another injured in an attack by Afghan forces in Muqur district of Ghazni province.
February 27:
Five ISIS militants, including three commanders, were killed in an airstrike in De Gul Dara of Zoki district of Kunar province.
March 3:
Eight Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between Taliban and Afghan forces in Tirinkot city of Uruzgan province.
Seven Taliban insurgents were killed and five others wounded in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Ghorak district of Kandahar province.
An armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Maiwand and Khakrez districts of Kandahar province has killed 10 armed Taliban and wounded eight others.
14 armed Taliban have been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Khogyani, Haska-Mina and Kot districts of Nangarhar province.
March 4:
Four Taliban militants have been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Dahna-i-Ghori district of Baghlan province.
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dawlatabad district of Balkh province, two militants were killed and two others were injured.
Four Taliban militants were killed and five others wounded in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban on the Zurmat-Gardez way in Paktia province.
Six Taliban militants were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Dehrawud district of Uruzgan province.
Three Taliban militants were killed in a roadside mine blast in Muqur district of Ghazni province.
Three Taliban insurgents were killed and three others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Khwaja Sabz Posh district of Faryab province.
March 5:
In Dangam district of Kunar province, three ISIS militants who wanted to plant a roadside mine were bombed and killed.
Seven ISIS militants have been killed in an airstrike in Mazari valley of Nurgal district of Kunar province.
Three Taliban militants including a Taliban commander were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Shindand district of Herat province.
Seven Taliban militants were killed and six others were injured in an airstrike in Bokan area of Bala Murghab district in Badghis province.
11 Taliban fighters were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Shahr-i-Sfa district of Zabul province.
Table 2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 115 | 72 |
187 |
|
ISIS |
27 | 3 | 30 |
| Total | 142 | 75 |
217 |
Civilian Casualties
February 21:
Three civilians, including a 2-year-old girl, were killed in Afghan National Army shootings in Surkhab area of Mohammad Agha district of Logar province.
Gunmen attacked the center of Qadis district in Badghis province, after which a clash ensued, killing five children.
February 22:
Armed Taliban attacked an outpost in Zari district of Balkh province, killing one civilian and wounding two others.
A commander of Hezb-i-Islami was killed and his guard was injured in Samangan province.
February 23:
Armed Taliban attacked an Afghan post in the center of Sar-e-Pul province, killing two civilians and injuring another.
Two civilians were killed and another injured in an armed Taliban attack in Chaharkant district of Balkh province.
February 26:
A child has been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Charkh district of Logar province.
Nine civilians were injured in a bomb blast near the Sixth Police District of Kabul city.
Three civilians were killed and two others injured in a roadside mine blast in the Shinkay district of Zabul province.
February 27:
A civilian was killed and ten others were injured when a bicycle bomb exploded near the sixth Police District in Sarkariz area of Kabul city.
March 2:
An explosion occurred near a football field in Nadirshahkot district of Khost province, killing three civilians and injuring 11 others.
A former ANA soldier was killed in an attack by armed insurgents in Takhtupal area of Oba district of Herat province.
A tribal elder, who was going to a mosque for evening prayer, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Yahyakhel district of Paktika province.
A civilian was killed in an attack by militants in Mosafaran area of Oba district of Herat province.
A tribal elder was killed in an attack on an unknown gunman in Khwajak Baba area of Kandahar province.
March 3:
Taliban militants killed a civilian in Kohistan district of Faryab province.
March 4:
Two civilians were shot dead by armed Taliban in Qalat city of Zabul province.
Two civilians were killed in a roadside mine blast in Sarsang area of Dawlat Yar district in Ghor province.
March 5:
A tribal elder was killed in Taliban attack in Gulran district of Herat province.
Table 3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 32 | 36 |
68 |
|
Total |
32 | 36 |
68 |
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 472 people have been killed and injured (299 of them were killed and 173 wounded) from 21 February – 5 March 2020.
The total death toll has increased over the past two weeks; the death toll of the Afghan forces has shown an increase over the last two weeks compared to the previous week. 44 Afghan security forces were killed in the last reports’ period; however, the level has increased in the last two weeks to reach 125 Afghan security forces been killed. The death toll for the armed opposition of the government has also increased compared to the previous week. Last week, 130 armed insurgents were killed; but in the past two weeks, the number has risen to 142. Civilian casualty rates show a slight decline compared to the previous week. The number of civilian casualties was 37, but in the past two weeks, the number has dropped to 32.
During this reporting period, civilians, like the past, were victims of the war. In a statement issued by the UNAMA, the United Nations political representative in Afghanistan said that more than 10,000 civilians have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan last year, where 3,403 civilians were killed and 6,089 others were injured. Moreover, the civilian casualty rate has declined by 5 percent over the past year compared to 2018, according to the statement.
The death toll for civilians in the past two weeks has been relatively low, one of the reasons for the decline in violence is the US and the Taliban peace deal process. From 22 up to 29 February a reduction of violence was announced by the parties throughout the country which was mostly implemented. However, in some provinces clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban were ongoing and casualty levels were low; but unfortunately, after the one-week period ended, violence on the battlefield again increased and the past week was bloody again.
Last week, on February 29, after nearly 18 months of talks between the US and the Taliban, a peace agreement was signed in Doha, the capital of Qatar, which would allow US forces to withdraw completely within 14 months from Afghanistan. Also, after this agreement, there will be efforts for intra-Afghan understanding and negotiations. The agreement also contains material regarding prisoners exchange between the Afghan government and the Taliban, which will be exchanged before the intra-Afghan dialogue begins; but now it seems that problems have been settled and the Afghan government is not ready to release Taliban prisoners. It has also raised concerns that the intra-Afghan dialogue phase is being disrupted.
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 | 125 | Afghan Forces |
36 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
142 | Anti-government Militants | 75 |
| Civilians | 32 | Civilians |
72 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | – |
| Total | 299 | Total |
173 |
|
Total Casualties 472 |
|||
The end
