In the first six months of 2021, Afghanistan was turned into a hell hole of violence by the Taliban. The armed insurgents are responsible for 56 percent of all civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan in the first six months—a shocking 2,978 casualties. The Taliban have taken control over Afghanistan and the horrific details made public by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) paint a gruesome picture of the life of the people of Afghanistan in the past and in the future under the Taliban rule.
AIHRC reports show that in 1,594 different security incidents, a total of 5,321 civilians have been killed or injured in the first six months of 2021. Among these civilian casualties, 1677 were killed, and 3,644 injured. Important to note that the total number of civilian casualties in the first six months of 2020 was 2,957, including 1,213 killed and 1,744 injured.
A comparison of the above-mentioned figures shows that civilian casualties have increased by 80 percent in the first six months of 2021 compared with the first six months of 2020.
The number of women civilian casualties in the first six months of 2021 is 504 in total which includes 154 killed, and 350 injured. The number of women civilian casualties in the first six months of 2020 was 297 in total which included 126 killed, and 171 injured. There has been a 69 percent rise in women civilian casualties in the first six months of 2021 in comparison with the first six months of 2020.
In the first half of 2021, as a result of military approaches of the warring parties in the country 373 children were killed, and 1,083 others were injured. The number of child casualties in the first six months of 2020 was 630 (225 killed, and 405 injured). The comparison of the above figures clearly shows that war principles and International Humanitarian Law have been violated. The number of child casualties increased by 131% in the first six months of 2021 compared to the first six months of 2020.
According to AIHRC findings from armed conflicts in the country, out of the total number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the first six months of 2021, the Taliban is responsible for 56 percent, pro-government forces are responsible for 15 percent, ISIS is responsible for seven percent, and unknown perpetrators are responsible for 22 percent. The Taliban is responsible for 2,978 civilian casualties (917 killed, and 2,061 injured) in the first six months of 2021. The war tactics by the Taliban include the use of IEDs, rocket fires, target killing, and ground battles. The number of civilian casualties by the Taliban in the first six months of 2021 compared with the same period in the previous year has been doubled. The Taliban was responsible for 1,438 civilian casualties (542 killed, and 896 injured) in the first six months of 2020.
Unknown perpetrators were responsible for another 1,190 civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of this year, including 425 civilians killed and 765 civilians injured. These attacks have not been claimed by any groups or individuals. It is important to note that 16 civilians have been harmed due to rocket fires from Pakistan to Afghanistan territory in the first six months of 2021. This includes two civilians killed, and 14 others injured. The pro-government forces are responsible for 794 civilian casualties (229 killed, 565 injured) in the first six months of 2021. The number of civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces in 2020 was 466 (152 killed, 314 injured). A comparison of the above figures shows that there has been a 70 percent rise in the number of civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces in the first six months of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020.
As AIHRC did not have full access to a number of provinces and districts during the first six months of 2021, it is possible that a number of civilian casualties from attacks by Afghan government forces were not registered with the Commission. ISIS is responsible for 343 civilian casualties (104 killed, 239 killed) in the first six months of 2021. Meanwhile, Daesh was responsible for 429 civilian casualties (145 killed, 284 injured) in the first six months of 2020. A comparison of both periods shows 20 percent reduction in 2021.