(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times)
Amidst United States and other stake holders efforts for
what it called resolution to conflict through peaceful and negotiated process,
worst kind of violence is in progress throughout war devastated motherland,
which could beconsidered a big question mark before White House. A recent
media report reveal that more than 11,000 civilians were killed and injured in
the past Afghan year (2018-2019), explaining a 19 percent increase compared to
the same period of time in the year before. The Afghanistan Independent Human
Rights Commission released a report, that says over 3,000 civilians were killed
and 8,000 more injured in the past Afghan year, with 68 percent of the victims
men, eight per cent women and 21 per cent children. HRC director, Seema Samar,
said that women casualties soared up to 16 percent, that she said show that war
had been widened in the residential areas, particularly residential houses.
According to report worst kind of violence registered during the October last
year parliamentary elections. Nearly 700 people were killed when the opposition
resistance launched massive attacks to prevent election turnout on a single day
throughout Afghanistan, and Taliban claimed responsibility for all that
violence occurred mostly in the southern provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul
and Uruzgan, which was recorded as 20 percent. The commission has held the
Taliban responsible for 53 percent of the casualties, pro-government and foreign
troops responsible for 12 percent each, while it was not clear that who was
responsible for the remaining of 22 percent casualties. It also informed that
the Islamic States (IS) militants, called Daaesh- terrorist group which emerged
in the country in early 2015, is responsible for killing and injuring of 1,500
civilians in the past year in the provinces of Kabul, Paktia, Ghor, Jawzjan and
Nangarhar. Though like of past the commission has repeated its call before the
government in Kabul to realise its responsibility but it has attached great
hopes with the US Special Envoy to help in combating of increasing violent acts
and civilian casualties. No one is in a position to neglect the role of US,
especially its envoy Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad to materialize the long standing
dreams of war stricken countrymen who now unanimously wants peace. Dr.
Khalilzad needs to convince the two sides, especially Taliban leaders to
declare ceasefire. Similarly, the HRC report confirmed maximum casualties on
elections day in previous October, therefore, Unity government needs to
re-visit its decision of Presidential polls. Whatever might be results and
outcomes of Presidential elections but it could be considered nothing else but
a futile exercise like of October 2018 Parliamentary elections. Instead of
misusing energies and resources on presidential elections, government must
focus all of its attentions on peace efforts. Unless and until of
reconciliation, return of peace and declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, no
one could sure about return of peace and ending of violence in Afghanistan.
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