During the first half of 2019, the war in Afghanistan resulted in 1,366 civilian deaths, which is 30% lower than in the same period last year, a new report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) shows.
Shockingly, pro-government forces including NATO troops were responsible for the majority of civilian casualties (717), while the Taliban and other militant groups killed 531 civilians. UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto urged all parties “to answer the call of Afghans for immediate steps to be taken to reduce the terrible harm being inflicted.”
The United States and the Taliban have so far held seven rounds of talks aiming to bring an end to the war of 18 years. Both sides have broadly agreed that a final peace agreement would result in a withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan under condition that the country will not be used by militant groups to launch attacks against the US and allied countries.
Read more: NATO, Afghan forces killed more civilians than Taliban: UN
