QASED Non-government Research Organization
Issue No: 49
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 areas of the country during April 10 – 16, 2020. Overall, 159 people have been killed and 76 others have been wounded across the country this week.
According to the report’s figures, the total death toll due to the ongoing war in the country has dropped significantly this week compared to last week. Last week, 417 people were killed or wounded across the country, but this week, 235 people were killed or wounded.
The death toll for Afghan forces this week was lower than it was last week. The deadliest incidents were reported in Kunduz and Logar provinces, where at least 19 security forces have been killed in attacks by armed insurgents.
Civilian casualties’ figures also show a decline compared to last week. The deadliest civilian casualties’ incidents were reported in Baghlan, Badakhshan and Paktia provinces, in which at least 12 civilians were killed and four others were injured.
On the other hand, the death toll among the government’s armed opposition has also decreased this week compared to last week.
You would 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
April 10:
Two policemen were killed and another injured in a remote-controlled mine blast in Nawa area of Tagab district of Kapisa province.
April 11:
A clash broke out between prisoners and police in the central jail of Paktia province, resulting in the death of two policemen and injuring two others.
In Taimani area of Kabul city, members of the President Protective Service (PPS) were attacked by unknown gunmen, killing one and wounding another.
A local police commander in Andkhoy district of Faryab province was killed in an insider attack.
Armed Taliban attacked an outpost in Dara-e-Souf district of Samangan province, killing three security forces.
April 12:
In the second police district of Gardez city, the capital of Paktia province, the NDS provincial manager and his driver were killed in an ambush by Taliban militants.
April 13:
In Sher Khan Bandar area of Kunduz province, five policemen have been killed by the Taliban.
April 14:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Arghandab district of Zabul province, one policeman was killed and four others were injured.
In a roadside bomb blast in Nurak area of Zabul province, two policemen were killed and two others injured.
A local policeman has been killed and another injured in a bomb blast in Qaisar district of Faryab province.
April 15:
A local policeman has been killed and another injured in a Taliban attack in Kunduz city.
April 16:
A staff member of police headquarters of Badghis province was killed by Taliban in Tagab Ismail area of Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province.
A policeman was killed in a Taliban attack in Pul-e-Malan area of Injil district of Herat province.
Three security personnel were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Pushtrud district of Farah province.
14 ANA soldiers were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Qala Dasht area of Charkh district of Logar province.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 14 | – |
14 |
|
Police |
26 | 12 | 38 |
| Total | 40 | 12 |
52 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
April 10:
Three Taliban fighters were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Lashjoian district of Farah province.
11 Taliban militants have been killed in Warduj district and 16 others in Nosy district of Badakhshan province in Afghan forces’ attacks.
Three Taliban militants, including a commander, have been killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Almar district of Faryab province.
April 11:
Three Taliban militants were killed and four others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Mizana district of Zabul province.
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Khumab district of Jawzjan province, five Taliban militants were killed and seven others wounded.
Four Taliban militants were killed in Waza Angor area of Khogyani district of Nangarhar province.
In an attack by Afghan forces in Timorak area of Chaharbulak district of Balkh province and Reg Agha area of Dawlatabad district, nine Taliban militants were killed and five others wounded.
Two Taliban militants were killed in a local police attack in Barakhana area of Ferozkoh city, the center of Ghor province.
April 12:
Three Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured in clashes between Taliban and Afghan forces in Saydan Noorzai and Dasht-Dagian areas of Greshk district of Helmand province.
April 13:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Qadis district of Badghis province, eight Taliban fighters were killed and 11 others were injured.
In the same area, five Taliban militants were killed and six others were injured in their mine blast.
April 14:
In an attack by Afghan forces in Shorabak and Mianshin districts of Kandahar province, four armed Taliban were killed and six others wounded.
Five Taliban militants were killed and four others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Helmand province’s Greshk district.
April 15:
Two Taliban militants were killed in their mine blast in Mianshin district of Kandahar province.
April 16:
Four Taliban militants were killed and another wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in alishang district of Laghman province.
Five Taliban fighters have been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Pushtrud district of Farah province.
A Taliban commander was killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Ab Band district of Ghazni province.
Table-2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 94 | 49 |
143 |
|
ISIS |
– | – | – |
| Total | 94 | 49 |
143 |
Civilian Casualties
April 10:
Three civilians were injured in a remote-controlled mine blast in Nawa area of Tagab district of Kapisa province.
Four civilians were killed and a woman and a child were injured in attacks by Afghan forces in Warduj district of Badakhshan province.
Three civilians were killed and two others were injured when a mine exploded in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
An Afghan forces’ mortar shell struck a civilian house in Pul-e-Khumri city, the center of Baghlan province, killing a woman.
A four-year-old child has been killed and another injured in an attack by Afghan forces in Targran area of Warduj district of Badakhshan province.
April 11:
A civilian was killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Mang area of Charsada district of Ghor province.
A civilian was killed and two others were injured in an airstrike in Zangatan area of Shahwalikot district of Kandahar province.
April 12:
In the second police district of Gardez city, the capital of Paktia province, the manager of the municipality has been killed in a Taliban militants’ ambush.
April 13:
Unknown gunmen attacked the convoy of the governor of Nangarhar province in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, injuring a civilian.
April 14:
A civilian was killed and two others were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Lalpora district of Nangarhar province.
April 15:
A civilian was killed in an attack by Taliban in Laman area of Qala-i-Naw city of Badghis province.
April 16:
Two women and a child were killed and two children and a woman were injured in a mortar shell attack on a civilian house in Ibrahimkhel area of Gardez city of Paktia province.
A civilian has been killed in a Taliban attack in the Kharjoi area of Shahjoi district of Zabul province.
A civilian was killed in an armed Taliban attack in Kunduz city.
Five members of a single-family were killed by unknown gunmen in Deh Salah district of Baghlan province.
A civilian was shot dead by Afghan forces in Seh Pedar area of Tagab district of Kapisa province.
Table-3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 25 | 15 |
40 |
|
Total |
25 | 15 |
40 |
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 235 people have been killed or injured (159 of them were killed and 76 wounded) from 10 – 16 April 2020.
The overall death toll this week was lower than it was last week. Last week, 52 Afghan security forces were killed; but this week, 40 Afghan soldiers were killed. The death toll among the anti-government armed militants is also lower than last week. Last week, 158 armed militants were killed, but this week 94 were killed. Civilian casualties also show a decline compared to last week. Last week, the civilian death toll was 48, but this week the number dropped to 25 (Table-4).
This week’s report shows that violence on the battlefield has decreased significantly across the country, and the death toll for civilians and warring parties was lower than last week. One of the reasons for the casualties’ declining is the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country, which has caused lockdown in some of the major cities. On the other hand, criticism from both sides over violations of the US-Taliban agreement is another factor that may have affected the decline in violence.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has said that 202 civilians and civil servants have been killed after the US-Taliban peace agreement was signed. According to the Independent Human Rights Commission, many civilians, including women and children, government officials, tribal elders and religious scholars have been targeted or abducted since the signing of the agreement. According to the commission’s figures, 83 people have been killed and 119 others injured. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has blamed the Taliban for 50 percent of these incidents and urged the parties involved to take serious measures to prevent civilian casualties.
The decline in violence on the battlefield comes at a time that various international stakeholders have recently accused the Taliban of not reducing violence and have called on the group to reduce the violence. In the latest development, US Special Representative, Zalmai Khalilzad, and the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan have met with the Taliban representatives in Qatar and discussed the implementation of the agreement. Nevertheless, no significant progress has been made in the process and the efforts to initiate intra-Afghan dialogue. In this regard, only 40 Afghan government prisoners have been released by the Taliban so far and 360 Taliban prisoners have been released by the Afghan government. On the other hand, the process has largely been undermined by the tensions between President Ghani and Dr Abdullah; however, it is expected that both sides will reach an agreement soon.
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 and to deal with this historical opportunity for peace in Afghanistan responsibly.
Table-4: Total casualties of war and security incidents
|
Name |
Killed | Name | Wounded |
| Afghan Forces | 40 | Afghan Forces |
12 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
94 | Anti-government Militants | 49 |
| Civilians | 25 | Civilians |
15 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | – |
| Total | 159 | Total |
76 |
|
Total Casualties 235 |
|||
The end
