QASED Non-government Research Organization
Issue No: 50
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 17 – 23, 2020. Overall, 394 people have been killed and 258 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 nearly tripled this week compared to last week. 235 people were killed or injured across the country last week, but a total of 652 people have been killed or injured this week.
The death toll among Afghan forces this week was significantly higher than it was last week. The deadliest incidents for Afghan forces took place in Logar, Balkh, Takhar and Sar-e-Pul provinces, where at least 47 security personnel were killed and 35 others wounded in attacks by insurgents.
Civilian casualties are also higher than last week. The deadliest civilian casualties’ incidents occurred in Baghlan, Badakhshan, Helmand and Paktia provinces, where at least 15 civilians were killed.
On the other hand, the death toll among the government’s armed opposition is also higher than it was last week. The Taliban suffered heavy casualties in Paktia, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Badghis provinces.
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 17:
In Kotwal and Chinoo areas of Tirinkot city, the center of Uruzgan province, Taliban attacked Afghan security posts, killing six security personnel and wounding three others.
A policeman was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the bazaar of Pashtun Zarghoon district of Herat province.
An unknown gunman shot and killed a district police officer in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.
In Rustaq area of Takhar province, the deputy head of the 5th police district of Kabul city was shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Four policemen, including a border police battalion commander, were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Takhar’s Khwaja Ghar district.
April 18:
Two security personnel were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.
Five Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and two ANA soldiers and two policemen were wounded in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in Sagheera area of Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.
Three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were shot dead by gunmen in Syedabad district of Maidan Wardak province.
Unknown gunmen stormed the home of former MP, Mohammad Hussain Fahimi, in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul province, killing a security guard.
Two pro-government militia members were killed and two others wounded in a clash between pro-government militias and Taliban fighters in Kamanj area of Shahrak district in Ghor province.
Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban militants in Khashrod district of Nimroz province.
Two policemen were killed and three others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dahndra area of Pashtun Kot district in Faryab province.
April 19:
Nine local policemen were killed and six others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dalan area of Shulgara district in northern Balkh province.
Three policemen were killed and ten others were injured in a Taliban attack in Moqor district of Badghis province.
Two security personnel were killed and two others wounded in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in three different districts of Faryab province.
The district police chief was killed in a roadside bomb blast in Qyaq Dara of Jaghoto district of Ghazni province.
Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Kamanj area of Shahrak district in Ghor province.
Six Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and four others wounded in a Taliban attack in Nachin area of Uruzgan province.
A National Directorate of Security (NDS) staff member was killed in an armed attack in the 7th Police District of Jalalabad city.
Five policemen were killed in a Taliban attack in Trinkot city of Uruzgan province.
April 20:
19 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and five others wounded in a Taliban attack in Khwaja Ghar district of Takhar province.
Seven Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in a Taliban attack in Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
Two policemen and a National Directorate of Security (NDS) soldier were killed and six others were injured in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Bandar Shakh, Nawdari and Sufi Qala areas of Qaisar district in Faryab province.
Two local policemen were killed and two others were injured in a Taliban attack in Aliabad district of Kunduz province.
Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and three local policemen were injured in a Taliban attack in the Bazaar Kohna area of Kushk-e-Kohna district in Herat province.
April 21:
A bomb exploded near a convoy of the governor of southeastern Khost province, killing two of his bodyguards.
A remote-controlled bomb exploded on Daikundi police chief’s car in Patoi district of Kunduz province, killing two policemen and wounding three others, including the commander.
Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and a policeman were killed and two others wounded in a Taliban attack in Qadis district of Badghis province.
April 22:
11 security personnel were killed and 19 others wounded in a Taliban attack in Sancharak and Suzma Qala districts of Sar-e-Pul province.
In Logar province, gunmen killed eight guards of Mes Aynak project and wounded five others.
Two security personnel were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Qalbars area of Takhar province.
Taliban militants attacked Afghan security forces outposts in Zhari and Spin Boldak districts of Kandahar province, killing four policemen and wounding five others.
April 23:
Taliban militants attacked Qala-e-Zaal district center in Kunduz province, killing five ANA soldiers and wounding three others.
Taliban militants attacked the district center of Darqad in Takhar province, killing a commando soldier.
Four policemen were killed and five others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Trinkot city of Uruzgan province.
One Afghan security guard was killed and three others were wounded in an armed clash between Afghan forces and insurgents in Qaisar district of Faryab province.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 47 | 14 |
61 |
|
Police |
84 | 92 | 176 |
| Total | 131 | 106 |
237 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
April 17:
Four Taliban fighters were killed and six others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Shurabak district of Kandahar province.
13 Taliban fighters were killed and 22 others wounded in attacks by Afghan forces in Laja Mangal and Zurmat districts of Paktia province.
Two Taliban fighters have been killed in an armed clash in Almar district of Faryab province.
Seven Taliban militants were killed and 11 others wounded in an airstrike in Khamab district of Jawzjan province.
April 18:
Two Taliban fighters were killed and two others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Imam Sahib District of Kunduz province.
12 Taliban fighters were killed and five others wounded in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Chamtal and Dawlatabad districts of Balkh province.
12 Taliban militants have been killed in a clash between Afghan border forces and Taliban in Spina Shaga area of Zazi Aryob district in Paktia province.
11 insurgents were killed and 16 others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Khashrod district of Nimroz province.
April 19:
Three Taliban fighters were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Nadali district of Helmand province.
Four Taliban fighters have been killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Jalozai area of Baraki Barak district in Logar province.
Seven Taliban fighters have been killed in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in three different districts of Faryab province.
Six Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Narkh district of Maidan Wardak province.
Two Taliban fighters were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Kamanj area of Shahrak district in Ghor province.
April 20:
Three Taliban fighters were killed and another wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dahndara area of Pashtun Kot district in Faryab province.
Seven Taliban fighters were killed and five others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Bandar Shah, Nawdari and Sufi Qala areas of Qaisar district in Faryab province.
16 Taliban fighters were killed and 10 others wounded in an airstrike in the Bazaar Kohna area of Kushk-e-Kohna district in Herat province.
April 21:
Three Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Namak-Ab district of Takhar province.
Five Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Qalat district of Zabul province.
26 Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash with Afghan forces in the Qala-e-Naw district of Badghis province.
April 22:
Eight Taliban fighters were killed and seven others wounded in an airstrike in Qalbars area of Takhar province.
31 Taliban fighters were killed and 20 others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Spin Boldak and Zherai districts of Kandahar province.
Four Taliban fighters were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Alizai area of Andaro district of Ghazni province.
April 23:
12 Taliban fighters have been killed and 10 others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Darwishan area of Kandahar province.
16 Taliban fighters were killed and seven others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Trinkot city of Uruzgan province.
14 Taliban fighters were killed and two others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and insurgents in Qaisar district of Faryab province.
Four Taliban fighters were killed and two others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Darqad district of Takhar province.
Table-2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 233 | 135 |
368 |
|
ISIS |
– | – | – |
| Total | 233 | 135 |
368 |
Civilian Casualties
April 17:
Six employees of Bagram airbase in Parwan province were attacked and killed and three others were injured.
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired by Taliban fighters at a civilian house in Gardez city, the capital of Paktia province, killing three civilians and wounding another.
A civilian was killed and two others were injured in a roadside bomb blast at Torkham customs office in Nangarhar province.
A civilian was killed in a roadside bomb blast in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province.
Two civilians were shot dead by an unknown gunman in the 8th police district of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.
April 18:
A civilian was killed and three others were wounded when a mortar shell fired by Taliban hit a civilian house in Tagab district of Kapisa province.
Unknown gunmen stormed the home of Mohammad Hussain Fahimi, a former member of the Wolesi Jirga, in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul province, injuring one of his sons.
April 19:
A child was shot dead by Afghan forces in Ibrahim Khel area of Maidan Wardak province.
A child was also wounded in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Shulgara district of Balkh province.
April 20:
Six people have been killed in a roadside bomb blast in Margha area of Barmal district in Paktika province.
April 21:
Two children and a woman were injured when a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy of the governor of Khost province.
April 22:
Four civilians were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Jaghoto district of Ghazni province.
Four civilians were killed in an airstrike in Kochnak area of Faizabad of Badakhshan province.
A child was killed and three others were injured in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Khamab district of Jawzjan province.
Table-3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 30 | 17 |
47 |
|
Total |
30 | 17 |
47 |
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 652 people have been killed or injured (394 of them were killed and 258 wounded) from 17 – 23 April 2020.
The overall death toll this week was significantly higher than last week. A multifold increase in casualties of Afghan forces has been seen this week. 40 Afghan security personnel were killed last week, but a total of 131 Afghan soldiers have been killed this week. The death toll among anti-government militants has more than doubled this week compared to last week. 94 insurgents were killed last week, but 233 have been killed this week. Civilian casualties are also on the rise compared to last week. The number of civilians killed last week was 25, but this week the number has risen to 30 (Table-4).
This week witnessed significant violence on the battlefield, unlike last week. The escalation of violence comes at a time when both the Taliban and the Afghan government are being called upon by domestic and international actors to reduce the violence. The Taliban have once again rejected the Afghan president’s call for a ceasefire. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s Qatar office, said in a tweet “In a time that the lives of thousands of prisoners are being put into danger due to the coronavirus and hurdle are created in the way of the peace process and complete implementation of the agreement, despite that, asking for a ceasefire is not rational and convincing”. The Taliban have repeatedly insisted that a ceasefire will be reached through the implementation of the agreement. The Taliban have also criticized the Afghan government and foreign forces airstrikes and military operations in civilian areas, blaming the government for the escalating violence.
The Afghan government, on the other hand, blames the Taliban for the escalating violence. The National Security Council, in its latest response to the Taliban’s attacks and ongoing violence, said that Taliban had carried out more than 2800 attacks since the signing of the peace agreement, which also resulted in widespread civilian casualties. Last week was the deadliest, according to the National Security Council, with the Taliban killing 34 civilians and wounding 62 others. However, the NSC acknowledged that 2737 Taliban fighters had been killed in attacks by government forces since the peace agreement was signed. A Taliban spokesman denied the allegations.
With these accusations and the ongoing violence on both sides, it seems that there are still problems to initiate the intra-Afghan dialogue and very little progress has been made. One of the reasons for the delays in the process is the lack of understanding between President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah, which is still under discussion and has had a significant impact on the peace process, as it is said that Dr. Abdullah will be given a post under the name of the High Reconciliation Council, which will be in charge of all peace matters.
On the other hand, there have been no reports of ISIS activities or casualties in the past few weeks. Although there have been some rumours about the activities of ISIS militants in Badakhshan province last week, a Taliban spokesman said in a tweet that there were no ISIS hideouts left across the country and that the group is completely defeated. The decline in ISIS activity could have a positive impact on the Afghan peace process and raise hopes for a post-peace and intra-Afghan peace process with the Taliban.
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 | 131 | Afghan Forces |
106 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
233 | Anti-government Militants | 135 |
| Civilians | 30 | Civilians |
17 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | – |
| Total | 394 | Total |
258 |
|
Total Casualties 652 |
|||
The end
