QASED Non-government Research Organization
(Issue No: 28)
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 15 – 21, 2019. Overall, 356 people have been killed or wounded this week (222 have been killed and 134 have been wounded).
According to the report’s figures, the total death toll due to the ongoing war in the country shows a slight decline compared to last week. Last week, 359 people were killed and wounded across the country; but this week, 356 were killed and wounded.
The death toll for Afghan forces has dropped compared to last week. The deadliest incident for these forces took place in Kunduz province. Taliban militants attacked ANA troops in Imam Sahib district of the province, killing at least 13 Afghan soldiers and wounding five others.
The number of civilian casualties also dropped compared to last week; however, many deaths were still attributed to landmines and airstrikes. Three civilians were killed and six others injured in a mine blast in Helmand province. Also in Faryab province, airstrikes by US forces killed three civilians.
The death toll for anti-government’s armed militants is again high this week, but it shows a slight decline compared to last week. US forces also suffered casualties this week.
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 the last part.
Afghan Forces’ Casualties
November 15:
The police chief of Warsaj district of Takhar province and three policemen were killed in a Taliban ambush in the Kotal-e-Barfi area of Jelga district of Baghlan province.
November 16:
Three ANA soldiers were killed and two others were injured in a bomb blast in Sang Atash area of Muqur district of Badghis province.
November 17:
A policeman was injured along with civilians in a bomb blast in Badarab area of Tagab district of Kapisa province.
A member of National Directorate of Security (NDS) was injured in a Taliban mortar attack in Kunduz city.
November 18:
A suicide bomber attacked a military training center in Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul city, wounding four ANA soldiers.
13 ANA soldiers were killed and five others were injured in a Taliban attack in Arbabkhel area of Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.
A soldier was killed and three others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Tassang area of Dehyak district of Ghazni province.
November 19:
Five security personnel were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Asheqwal area of Andar district of Ghazni province.
A policeman has been killed in an attack by Taliban militants in Sarmang area of Sholgara district of Balkh province.
November 20:
A soldier was injured in clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Darzab and Mangjak districts of Jawzjan province.
A traffic license officer has been killed and three other traffic policemen were injured in an explosion in Mujahid Square in Khost province.
Five border soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants in Atashan area of Adraskan district of Herat province.
November 21:
Taliban militants attacked an outpost of Afghan forces in Aaq Cheshma area of Darzab district of Jawzjan province, killing a commando soldier, a policeman and an ANA soldier.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 18 | 11 |
29 |
|
Police |
13 | 14 | 27 |
| Total | 31 | 25 |
56 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
November 15:
Eight Taliban militants were killed and 10 others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Jarkhushk and Jagroom areas of Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
November 16:
In the Charsadda district and Ferozkoh city, the center of Ghor province, Afghan forces attacked hideouts of Taliban, killing 17 Taliban fighters and injuring six others.
November 17:
Four Taliban militants, including two commanders, were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in the Dowum Qala area of Gozriwan district of Faryab province.
Two Taliban militants were killed and three others were injured in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Qarqin district of Jawzjan province.
In a clash between police and Taliban in Kajirkhel and Baran Khel areas of Shahjoy district of Zabul province, a Taliban militant was killed and three others were injured.
Two Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Zurmat district of Paktia province.
Six Taliban militants were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Garmsir district of Helmand province.
November 18:
16 Taliban militants were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in Aaq-Kaprak area of Kushanda district of Balkh province.
A Taliban commander was killed during an operation by Afghan National Army (ANA) in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.
14 Taliban militants were killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in the Kurlak area of Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.
Five Taliban militants were killed and two others wounded during an operation by Afghan forces in Marjah district of Helmand province.
Three Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between security forces and Taliban in Tasang area of Dihyak district of Ghazni province.
Two Taliban militants were killed and three others were injured in a police ambush in Neknam area of Zurmat district of Paktia province.
November 19:
15 Taliban militants were killed and eight others were injured in attacks by Afghan forces in Sherzad district of Nangarhar province.
Nine Taliban militants were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Babri Aahingaran and Alef Khan areas of Baraki Barak district of Logar province.
Three Taliban fighters were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Qala-e-Khawaja Namosi area of Pashtunkot district of Faryab province.
November 20:
19 Taliban militants were killed and 14 others wounded during an operation by Afghan forces in Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
In Gizab district of Uruzgan province, four Taliban militants were killed and five others were injured in commando forces operation.
Three Taliban militants were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Darzab and Mangajak districts of Jawzjan province.
November 21:
Taliban militants attacked a security outpost in Aaq Chishma area of Darzab district of Jawzjan province, as a result, 20 Taliban militants were killed in the clash.
22 Taliban militants were killed and 11 others wounded in attacks by Afghan forces in Badghis, Maidan Wardak, Uruzgan, Herat, Kandahar and Helmand provinces.
Table 2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured |
Total Killed and Injured |
|
Taliban |
176 | 72 | 248 |
| Total | 176 | 72 |
248 |
Civilian Casualties
November 15:
Gunmen set fire on civilian shops in Darzab district of Jawzjan province, resulting in injuries to 10 civilians.
Three civilians were killed and six others were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Shawal area of Nad Ali district of Helmand province.
November 16:
Two employees of Attorney General’s office were killed and two others were injured in an attack by unknown gunmen in Qarabagh district of Kabul province.
A civilian was killed by unknown gunmen in Taloqan city, the center of Takhar province.
Three mortar shells were fired at IEC office near Kunduz University in Kunduz city, killing one civilian and wounding three others.
November 17:
Seven civilians, including three children and three women, were injured in a mine blast in Badarab area of Tagab district of Kapisa province.
Six civilians, including three children, were injured in a magnetic bomb blast attached to a police Ranger car near the currency exchange market in Herat city.
A child was injured in a roadside bomb blast in a market near Balkh gate area in Mazar-e-Sharif city, Balkh province.
November 18:
A suicide bomber attacked the front of a military training center in Pul-i-Charkhi area of Kabul city, in which a civilian was injured along with ANA soldiers.
The prosecutor of Nawa district’s primary court and his nephew were killed in unknown gunmen attack in Ganj area of Ghazni City.
Three civilians were killed in an airstrike by US forces in Qala-e-Khawaja Namosi area of Pashtunkot district of Faryab province.
November 20:
Famous political analyst and writer, Waheed Mozhdah, was assassinated in an attack by unknown motorcycle riders in the PD7 of Kabul city, near the Russian embassy and his home.
A civilian was injured in a bomb blast in Mujahid Square of Khost province.
Table 3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured |
Total Killed and Injured |
|
Civilians |
13 | 37 | 50 |
| Total | 13 | 37 |
50 |
Foreign Forces’ Casualties
November 20:
A U.S. military helicopter crashed in Charkh district of Logar province, resulting in the death of two U.S. soldiers. Taliban claimed in a statement that dozens of U.S. and Afghan soldiers were on the helicopter and wanted to carry out night raids against Taliban.
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 356 people have been killed and injured (222 of them were killed and 134 wounded) from 15 – 21 November 2019.
The total number of casualties in this week has dropped. On the Afghan government’s side, 34 Afghan security forces were killed last week; but this week the number has dropped to 31. The death toll from anti government’s armed militants has also shown a slight decrease compared to the previous week. Last week, 181 insurgents were killed, but this week a total of 176 Taliban militants were killed in different parts of the country. On the other hand, the death toll for civilians has also declined compared to last week. Last week, the number of civilian casualties was 28, but this week the number has dropped to 13 civilians.
The total number of civilian casualties in this week has dropped compared to the past few weeks; however, the main causes for such casualties were bomb blasts and airstrikes. In one incident, a mine exploded in Helmand province, killing three civilians and injuring six others. Civilian casualties have been reported in other provinces in similar cases. On the other side, in Pashtunkot district of Faryab province, a US airstrike on a residential house killed three civilians.
Famous political analyst and writer, Waheed Mozhdah, was also killed this week in an attack by unknown riding-motorcycle gunmen near to his home in Kabul. Mr. Mozhdah was one of those Afghans who opposed the presence of foreign forces in the country and the Afghan government’s policies on peace. This is not the first incident of its kind. Similar people have been targeted before; however, such incidents have increased recently. Mr. Mozhdah’s supporters have blamed the Afghan government for the incident, calling it a series of activities against those who oppose government’s policies on peace.
On the other side, a US helicopter in Logar province was crashed by Taliban, in which two American soldiers were killed, but Taliban claimed that their fighters in Charkh district of Logar attacked a Chinook helicopter while they were moving to a nearby area for night operations and killed all Americans and several National Security (01 unit) forces. U.S. President Donald Trump issued pardons to two U.S. Army officers accused of war crimes and killing civilians in Afghanistan. President Trump also attended the funeral of American soldiers killed in Logar province and paid respect to two soldiers killed in Logar. President Trump’s participation in these ceremonies shows that he is building a mindset to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan.
This week, after lengthy talks, prisoners were exchanged between Americans and Taliban, in which two American university’s lecturers in Afghanistan were exchanged with three senior Taliban members, including Anas Haqqani. Prisoner exchange has raised hopes for a resumption of peace talks, but no practical steps have been taken yet.
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 |
31 | Afghan Forces | 25 |
| Anti-government Militants | 176 | Anti-government Militants |
72 |
|
Civilians |
13 | Civilians | 37 |
| Foreign Forces | 2 | Foreign Forces |
– |
|
Total |
222 | Total | 134 |
|
Total Casualties 356 |
|||
The end
