QASED Non-government Research Organization
Issue No: 46
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 Mar 20 – 26, 2020. Overall, 314 people have been killed and 157 others have been wounded across the country this week.
According to the report’s statistics, the total death toll due to the ongoing war in the country has increased this week compared to last week. Last week, 324 people were killed or wounded across the country, but this week, 471 were killed or wounded.
The death toll among the Afghan forces this week was higher than it was last week. The deadliest incidents have been reported in Zabul, Kunduz, Kandahar and Kapisa provinces, where at least 52 security forces have been killed and 12 others injured in attacks by armed insurgents.
Civilian casualties’ figures also show an increase compared to last week. The deadliest civilian casualties’ incidents were reported in Kunduz and Helmand provinces, where at least 23 civilians were killed. Also, militants attacked a Sikh temple in Kabul, killing at least 25 people and wounding eight others.
On the other hand, the death toll among the armed opposition of the government showed an increase 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
March 20:
14 ANA soldiers and 10 policemen were killed in an armed attack by Taliban in the outskirts of Qalat, the center of Zabul province.
March 21:
Seven policemen were killed in an armed attack of Taliban in Afghania Dara of Nijrab district in Kapisa province.
In Baghlan district of Baghlan province, Taliban militants attacked an outpost of Afghan forces, killing two policemen.
March 22:
In a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts of Kunduz province, four ANA soldiers were killed and six others wounded.
Taliban militants attacked an Afghan security outpost in Mahmudabad area of Gosfanda district of Sar-e-Pul province, killing two security forces and injuring four others.
Taliban militants attacked an outpost in Sayaad district of Sar-e-Pul province, injuring five security forces.
Four commandos were killed and 13 others were wounded due to a bomb blast on a vehicle of Afghan forces in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province.
A local policeman was killed and two ANA soldiers were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Panjwaiee district of Kandahar province.
Gunmen attacked Shindand district’s center in Herat province, killing one commando soldier and injuring another.
Taliban militants attacked a security outpost in Muqur district of Badghis province, killing one local policeman and injuring two others.
Armed Taliban attacked a security outpost in Baghlan province between Shahr Kuhnah and Baghlan-i-Markazi districts, killing one local policeman and injuring another.
March 23:
Five policemen were killed in a roadside mine blast in Tasang area of Deh-yak district of Ghazni province.
An explosion took place near Paktia University in Gardez city, the center of Paktia province, killing one university guard and injuring another.
Four policemen were killed and three others injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
A policeman has been killed in a bomb blast in Lashkargah city, the capital of Helmand province.
In Logar province, a guard has been killed in a dispute between the guards of the governor of Logar.
An ANA soldier was killed in a Taliban ambush in Timurak area of Chaharbulak district of Balkh province.
Two policemen were killed in an attack by Taliban militants in the PD2 of Kunduz city.
Armed Taliban attacked the center of Gorziwan district of Faryab province, killing one Territorial Army soldier.
A policeman was killed and another was injured in an attack by Taliban militants in the Talukan area of Panjwai district of Kandahar province.
March 24:
A policeman and a local policeman were killed in a Taliban attack near to Khanabad Port in Kunduz province
A female police officer was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Khawjak area of Kandahar city.
Two ANA soldiers were killed and three ANA soldiers and two policemen were injured in a Taliban attack on an outpost in Kamunj area of Salah Khana village of Shahrak district in Ghor province.
A policeman was killed in an attack by Taliban militants in Gul Tepa district of Kunduz province.
Taliban militants attacked a security post in Feroza area of Dawlatabad district of Faryab province, killing one local policeman and injuring another.
March 25:
Two policemen were killed in a roadside mine blast in Ghazi Park area of the PD2 of Kandahar city.
A policeman was killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Alah Sai district of Kapisa province.
In Shahkot area of Tagab district of Kapisa province, Taliban attacked an outpost, killing one policeman.
March 26:
In Nawabad area of Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province, Taliban attacked an outpost, killing five security forces and injuring three others. Another rocket attack by Taliban militants on a police outpost in the area also killed two policemen and injured another.
A soldier was killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dawlatar district of Ghor province.
In Almar district of Faryab province, an Afghan soldier was killed and six others were injured in a Taliban attack.
Taliban militants attacked a local police outpost in Trinkot city of Uruzgan province, killing four local policemen and wounding two others.
Three security personnel have been killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Badakhshan province.
Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| ANA | 27 | 25 |
52 |
|
Police |
64 | 32 | 96 |
| Total | 91 | 57 |
148 |
Anti-government Armed Militants’ Casualties
March 20:
Three Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Sherzad district of Nangarhar province.
12 Taliban militants were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Dawlatabad district of Balkh province.
March 21:
Three Taliban fighters were killed in shootings of Afghan forces in the Afghania Dara of Nijrab district of Kapisa province.
Eight Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Baghlan district of Baghlan province.
Four Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Qala-e-Zal district of Kunduz province.
March 22:
In an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts of Kunduz province, 24 armed Taliban were killed and 19 others were injured.
12 Taliban militants were killed and 14 others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Khakrez district of Kandahar province.
10 Taliban militants were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Lashkar Gah city and Nahr-e-Seraj district of Helmand province.
A clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Nusay district of Badakhshan province has killed seven militants and wounded eight others.
Five armed Taliban were killed in clashes between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Spin Maktab area of Wazikhwa district of Paktika province.
Five Taliban militants were killed in clashes between Afghan commandos and armed Taliban in Bariha area of Zabul province.
March 23:
15 Taliban militants were killed and 17 others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Maiwand district of Kandahar province.
March 24:
Three Taliban fighters were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Bidak village of Spin Boldak district in Kandahar province.
Eight militants were killed and two others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Baraki Barak district of Logar province.
Four armed Taliban were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and armed Taliban in Trinkot city of Uruzgan province.
Two Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in an attack by Afghan forces in Gorziwan district of Faryab province.
March 25:
Eight armed Taliban were killed in an attack by Afghan forces in Mizana district of Zabul province.
Eight Taliban militants were killed and six other wounded in an Afghan forces’ attack in Kunduz province.
March 26:
Seven Taliban fighters were killed and six others were injured in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Dawlatyar district of Ghor province.
11 Taliban fighters were killed in an armed clash between Afghan forces and Taliban in Badakhshan province.
Table-2: Casualties of the Anti-government Armed Militants
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Taliban | 159 | 84 |
243 |
|
ISIS |
– | – | – |
| Total | 159 | 84 |
243 |
Civilian Casualties
March 20:
A civilian was killed in firing by Taliban militants in Qadis district of Badghis province.
Taliban militants killed the nephew of Abdul Matinbek, the head of Independent Directorate of Local Governance of Afghanistan.
March 21:
Four civilians were killed in an airstrike in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.
Taliban militants have shot and killed a civilian in Foladgi area of Shahr-e-Safa district of Zabul province and injured another.
Gunmen kidnapped a civilian in Kapisa province first and then killed him.
March 22:
11 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.
Two civilians were injured in armed clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts of Kunduz province.
In Khanabad district of Kunduz province, Taliban militants attacked an outpost. A civilian was also killed in the shooting from both sides.
In Gosanfada district of Sar-e-Pul province, Taliban militants attacked an Afghan security post, killing two civilians.
A religious scholar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the fifth Police District of Kabul city.
March 23:
Two nephews of a parliament member have been killed in an insurgent attack in Lashkargah city of Helmand province.
A civilian was also killed in a roadside mine blast in Deh-yak district of Ghazni province.
Two policemen in the second Police District of Kunduz city, who were travelling in a Rickshaw, were attacked by Taliban gunmen in which the driver was also killed.
March 24:
A civilian was killed and another was injured in an armed Taliban attack in Sarak Naw area near to Khanabad Port in Kunduz province.
A bomb exploded near Paktia University in Gardez city, the capital of Paktia province, wounding one civilian.
A woman has been killed in a rocket attack by Taliban militants on a civilian house in Feroza area of Dawlatabad district of Faryab province.
March 25:
Eight civilians have been killed in a roadside mine blast in Roshan Tower area of Musa Qala district of Helmand province.
25 people were killed and eight others were injured in an attack on a Sikh temple in Shor Bazar area of Kabul city.
Three people, including two women and a man, were killed and two children were injured when a mortar shell struck a civilian vehicle in Ala Sai district of Kapisa province.
March 26:
The provincial manager of Da Afghanistan Bank was injured in an attack by unknown gunmen in Maimana, the capital of Faryab province.
Table-3: Civilian Casualties
|
Name |
Killed | Injured | Total Killed and Injured |
| Civilians | 43 | 16 |
80 |
|
Total |
43 | 16 |
80 |
Conclusion and Analysis of the Week
The report shows that all over the country, 471 people have been killed or injured (314 of them were killed and 157 wounded) from 20 – 26 March 2020.
Overall, the total death toll has increased this week. The death toll among the Afghan forces this week shows an increase compared to last week. Last week, 74 Afghan security forces were killed; but this week, the level has risen to reach 91. The death toll among the government’s armed opposition is also higher than it was last week. Last week, 82 armed militants were killed, but this week the number was doubled to reach 159 militants killed. Civilian casualties also increased compared to last week. Last week, the civilian death toll was 11, but this week the number has risen to 64 (Table-4).
This week was once again a bloody week for the fighting parties and civilians. On the first day of the solar year 1399, Taliban along with their infiltrators in Afghan forces attacked a security outpost in Zabul province, killing at least 24 Afghan soldiers. The bloody attack was condemned at the national and international level while the pursuit of peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban is ongoing. On the other hand, two days after the attack, airstrikes by Afghan forces in Dasht-Archi and Imam Sahib districts of Kunduz province killed 15 civilians, where all members of a family were killed and only two children remained alive. The attack on Sikhs’ temple in Kabul, which killed 25 people, was also widely condemned. Taliban denied involvement in this attack, therefore it was a mysterious attack that took place at a critical stage of the peace process. The bloody situation comes at a time when the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a report that said at least 100 civilians were killed in violence in the first 25 days of March and dozens more were injured.
On the other hand, progress has also been seen in the process of initiating intra-Afghan dialogue. Two video conferences were held between members of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar and representatives of the Afghan government, where prisoner exchanges were discussed. Representatives of the United States and Qatar were also present at these video conferences, and it was decided that at least 100 Taliban prisoners would be released by the end of March. At the same time, the Afghan government also announced its team for peace talks with the Taliban, whose structure has been criticized by several Afghan political parties, and the US Special Representative, Zalmai Khalilzad, also told reporters about the team. He said that the members of the team should not be the ones whose decisions would be rejected by any political party in the future.
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 | 91 | Afghan Forces |
57 |
|
Anti-government Militants |
159 | Anti-government Militants | 84 |
| Civilians | 64 | Civilians |
16 |
|
Foreign Forces |
– | Foreign Forces | – |
| Total | 314 | Total |
157 |
|
Total Casualties 471 |
|||
The end
