QASED Non-government Research Organization
Issue No: 53
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 May 8 – 14, 2020. Overall, 350 people have been killed and 354 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 risen sharply this week compared to last week. 432 people were killed or injured across the country last week, but a total of 704 people have been killed or injured this week.
The death toll among Afghan forces this week was higher than last week. The deadliest incidents for Afghan forces took place in Laghman, Balkh and Ghor provinces, where at least 40 security personnel were killed and 26 others wounded in attacks by anti-government militants.
Civilian casualties also rose sharply over the past week. The deadliest civilian casualties’ incident took place in Nangarhar, Kabul and Paktia provinces, where at least 68 civilians were killed and 179 others were injured in attacks by anti-government militants.
On the other hand, the death toll among the government’s armed opposition is also lower than it was last week. The Taliban suffered heavy casualties in Laghman and Logar provinces, where 51 fighters were killed and ten others wounded.
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
May 8:
Two policemen were killed and ten others were injured in an armed clash between police and unknown gunmen in Ghor province.
A policeman has been killed in a roadside bomb blast in the 10th police district of Kandahar city.
May 9:
Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan National Army (ANA) outpost in Baba Yusuf area of Balkh province, killing four local policemen and three Afghan National Police and wounding another.
A policeman has been killed in a roadside bomb blast in the second security district of Kandahar city.
A policeman has been killed in an ambush by Taliban fighters in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
May 10:
Four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed five others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Baraki Barak district of Logar.
Two Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) soldiers were killed in an attack in Murghab district of Ghor province.
Also, two policemen were killed in a magnetic bomb blast in Ghor province.
Five Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush in Jaghoto district of Ghazni province.
An unknown gunman shot and killed a policeman in the 3rd police district of Kandahar city.
A policeman was killed in an attack by an unknown gunman in Karim Khan area of Pashtun Zarghoon district in Herat province.
An unknown gunman shot and killed a policeman in the 1st police district of Kandahar city.
An ANA soldier was killed and another wounded in an attack by an unknown gunman near the first police district of Lashkar Gah city, Helmand province.
An ANA soldier was killed in a Taliban attack in Abkamari district of Badghis province.
May 11:
27 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and 13 others wounded in a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Alishang district of Laghman province.
Two policemen have been killed in a roadside bomb blast in Seya Sang Dara of Arghandab district of Kandahar province.
Three local policemen were wounded in a Taliban attack in Balkh province.
An unknown gunman shot and killed a policeman in the 14th police district of Kandahar city.
An ANA soldier was killed and another wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Kohistan district of Badghis province.
May 12:
In Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul city, gunmen attacked a hospital, killing a policeman along with civilians.
The commander of the first police district of Aibak city and a member of his family were injured in an attack by unknown gunmen in Aibak city of Samangan province.
The district police chief was killed and three policemen were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Ghazni province.
In Ferozkoh city, the capital of Ghor province, Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan security checkpoint, killing four local policemen and wounding three others.
Two policemen were killed in an unknown gunmen attack in Shahwalikot district of Kandahar province.
May 13:
A policeman has been killed in an attack by an unknown gunman in the vegetable market area of Khearna’s city, the capital of Paktika province.
A policeman and two ANA soldiers were killed in an attack at the highway of Gardez and Zurmat districts of Paktia province.
Two local policemen were killed and two others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Naseri area of Kunduz province.
Four local policemen were killed and four others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Nawabad area of Dasht-e-Qala district in Takhar province.
Two policemen were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Hakimabad area of Mehtarlam city in Laghman province.
Two local policemen have been killed in a Taliban attack in Aqcha Nama area of Jawzjan province.
A policeman was killed in an unknown gunmen attack in Panjwaye district of Kandahar province.
A policeman was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Pul-e-Sayad area of Kapisa province.
May 14:
A car bomb exploded near an ANA military facility in Paktia province, killing one ANA soldier and wounding five others.
Two policemen were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Kandahar city.
A local policeman was killed and another wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
Three policemen were killed and five others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
In Ghorian district of Herat province, armed militants attacked a police vehicle, injuring two policemen.
A policeman was killed in a grenade attack in Debaro-Pla area of 9th police district of Kandahar city.
Taliban fighters attacked a security outpost in Aqcha district of Jawzjan province, killing two security personnel and wounding another.
Two policemen and three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and four others wounded when Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan security outpost in Char-Bolak district of Balkh province.
Taliban fighters attacked a security outpost in Siah Sang area of Dehik district in Ghazni province, killing two policemen.
Five commandos soldiers have been killed in a Taliban attack in Dawlatabad district of Balkh province.
A roadside bomb blast in Dawlatabad district of Balkh province has killed four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and wounded two others.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 54 | 31 |
85 |
|
NDS |
2 | – | 2 |
| Police | 53 | 38 |
91 |
|
Total |
109 | 69 |
178 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
May 8:
Seven Taliban fighters were killed in air and ground operations by Afghan forces in Burgi area of Ahmadabad district of Paktia province.
May 9:
Two militants were killed in an attack by police in the 10th police district of Kandahar province.
May 10:
15 fighters were killed and six others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Baraki Barak district of Logar province.
11 Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Koli area of Mohammad Agha district in Logar province.
A Taliban fighter was killed in an ambush by Afghan forces in Alishang district of Laghman province.
May 11:
Eight Taliban fighters were killed and five others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province.
23 Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Laghman province’s Alishang district.
Six Taliban fighters were killed and five others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Bandar Shakh area of Qaisar district in Faryab province.
May 12:
In Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul, gunmen attacked a hospital, in which all of three attackers were killed.
May 13:
Four Taliban fighters were killed and five others wounded in a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Naseri area of Kunduz province.
Three fighters were killed and two others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Nawabad area of Dasht-e-Qala district in Takhar province.
A Taliban fighter was killed during a clash with local police in Chanchar Pul area of Alingar district of Laghman province.
Five Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Aqcha Nama area of Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
May 14:
13 fighters have been killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.
Five Taliban fighters have been killed and three others wounded in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
22 fighters were killed and 14 others wounded during an operation by Afghan forces in Charbolak district of Balkh province.
Two Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.
Table-2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Anti-government Armed Militants | 131 | 44 |
175 |
|
Total |
131 | 44 |
175 |
Civilian Casualties
May 8:
A clash erupted between protestors and police in Ghor province resulted in the death of four protestors including a journalist and wounding nine others
May 9:
A former Hezb-e-Islami commander was shot and killed by an unknown gunman in Baghlan’s capital, Pakhumri city.
A child was killed and three others were injured when a mortar shell hit a civilian house in Salim Khel area of Azra district in Logar province.
A civilian was injured in a bomb blast at a shop in Pul-e-Alam, the provincial capital of Logar province.
The Imam of a mosque in Kabul’s 6th police district was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen.
Two girls have been killed in a rocket attack by Afghan forces in Ghazni province.
A civilian was killed in an ambush by Taliban fighters in Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
A civilian was killed in a shooting by Afghan forces in Shahrak area of Logar province.
May 10:
Unknown gunmen opened fire on worshipers in Dand Patan district of Paktia province, killing three civilians.
A civilian has been killed in a Taliban attack in northern Balkh province.
A civilian was killed along with ANA soldiers in an ambush by Taliban fighters in Qayaq Dara area of Jaghto district in Ghazni province.
A civilian was killed by Taliban fighters in the Madrassa area of Ferozkoh in Ghor province.
A civilian was killed and two women were injured in a mortar shell fired by Afghan forces in Haft Asyab area of Syedabad district in Maidan Wardak province.
Two civilians were killed and two others were injured in an airstrike in Hewado area of Khas Balkh district in Balkh province.
May 11:
Four civilians, including children, were killed and two others wounded in an attack by gunmen in Mohammad Hassan village of Khair Kot district in Paktika province.
Also, a civilian was killed in Wazi Khawa district of the province.
Four civilians, including a child, were injured in four separate mine blasts in Tahe-Maskan area near Kabul’s 17th District.
A religious scholar was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Ada area of Qarabagh district in Ghazni province.
Three children were killed and three others were injured when a mortar shell hit a civilian house in Shiwan area of Farah’s Bala Baluk district.
May 12:
Ten civilians were killed and 11 others were injured in an airstrike in Ghundan area of Balkh district, Balkh province.
A bomb blast during a funeral procession in Shewa district of Nangarhar province has killed 32 civilians and injured 133 others.
Gunmen attacked a hospital in Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul city, killing 23 civilians, including women and two children, and wounding 16 others.
A civilian was killed and ten others were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Khalbisat town of Sabari district in Khost province.
In addition to the commander of police, a member of his family was also wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen in Aibak city of Samangan province.
A cook at a security outpost in Kandahar’s Panjwai district was killed in an attack by unknown gunmen.
A mortar shell fired by Afghan forces hit a civilian house in Zara district of Balkh province, killing a woman and injuring seven others, including two women and three children.
May 13:
A civilian was killed and another was injured when gunmen attacked worshipers at a mosque in Toro Dando area of Sabari and Yaqubi districts in Khost province.
A civilian was killed in an attack by an unknown gunman in the vegetable market area of Kharan city, the capital of Paktika province.
Two civilians have been killed in a militant attack on a highway in Paktia province’s Gardez and Zurmat districts.
A grenade blast at a tribal assembly in Lalpora district of Nangarhar province has injured ten civilians.
Two civilians were wounded in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Aqcha Nama area of Aqcha district in Jawzjan province.
May 14:
Two civilians were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Faryab province.
A car bomb has exploded near an Afghan National Army (ANA) military base in Paktia province, killing three civilians and wounding 19 others.
A civilian was killed and another was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Kandahar City.
A woman was killed and two others were injured when gunmen attacked a police vehicle in Ghoryan district of Herat province.
A civilian was killed and another was wounded in an attack in Maidan Hawaie area of Charbolak district in Balkh province.
A mortar shell fired by Afghan forces hit a civilian house in Yangi Qala area of Chamtal district of Balkh province, killing one child and injuring another.
Table-3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 110 | 241 |
351 |
|
Total |
110 | 241 |
351 |
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 704 people have been killed or injured (350 of them were killed and 354 wounded) from 8 – 14 May 2020.
The overall death toll in this week is higher than it was last week. The casualties’ figures of Afghan forces in this week show a decrease compared to last week. 74 Afghan security personnel were killed last week, but a total of 109 Afghan soldiers were killed this week. The death toll among the anti-government armed militants is lower than last week. 143 militants were killed last week, but 131 have been killed this week. But, civilian casualties are several times higher than it was last week. The number of civilians killed last week was 8, but this week the number has risen to 110 (Table-4).
This week was once again the bloodiest week for civilians after a few months. This week, two attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar killed more than 55 innocent civilians and injured more than 150 others. The two attacks were on a 100-bed Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Kabul and a bloody explosion during a funeral procession in Shewa district of Nangarhar province. No one has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks. However, various Afghan government agencies, including the Presidential Palace, have repeatedly blamed the Taliban for the attacks. Yet, Taliban spokesman issued an official statement condemning the attacks, claiming that they were carried out by government-linked groups and that the government had used these attacks to launch offensive operations. In a statement issued after the attacks, President Ghani ordered the Afghan forces to start offensive operations.
The attacks were widely condemned inside and outside the country. The US special envoy for Afghan peace, Zalmai Khalilzad, said in a tweet that the US government’s findings and assessment show that the attacks were carried out by ISIS and that the group is still a serious threat to Afghanistan and the world. He said ISIS tries to disturb and block a peace agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government and that Afghans should take advantage of the current historic opportunity for peace in the country instead of creating obstacles to peace.
On the other hand, in addition to these mysterious attacks, several civilians were also killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in the Ghundan area of Balkh district in Balkh province. In a statement, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) expressed concern over the civilian casualties in Balkh province and called on the Afghan government to take serious care of civilians’ lives during airstrikes and heavy weapons attacks.
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 | 109 | Afghan Forces |
69 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
131 | Anti-government Militants | 44 |
| Civilians | 110 | Civilians |
241 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | – |
| Total | 350 | Total |
354 |
|
Total killed and injured 704 |
|||
The end
