(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) Militancy and terroristattacks in populated areas and major cities were described as the main causesof civilian casualties in 2015, underscoring a push by Taliban militants intourban centers 'with a high likelihood of causing civilian harm. IncludingTaliban-claimed attacks, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistanassigned responsibility for 62 per cent of total civilian casualties in 2015 toanti-government elements. However, the report also noted a surge in casualtiescaused by pro-government forces, including the international troops.
While groundengagements were the largest cause of civilian casualties, improvised explosivedevices came second, the UN said in its 2015 report, adding that the use ofsuch weaponry was in violation of international law and could constitute warcrimes.
Worst of all, theSIGAR reported that civilian casualties in 2016 were the highest since theUnited Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan began recording them in 2009.That count found conflict-related civilian casualties in Afghanistan rose to11,418. The record high civilian casualties continued up to the current yearsand the militant fighters, mainly the Taliban and the ISIS group carried outthe bulk of the casualties.
With a new wave ofprivately run seminaries/madrasahs being opened across the country, the women'srights groups feared that women's freedoms were again under threat. Three yearsago, it was reported that 1,300 unregistered madrasahs were operating inAfghanistan, where children were given only religious teaching. This wasincreasing fear among those involved in mainstream education. Arguably the mostcontroversial of these madrasahs was Ashraf-ul Madares in Kunduz, founded bytwo local senior clerics, where 6,000 girls were said to study full time.
Generally speaking,heavy casualties inflicted upon Afghan civilians and soldiers will fill onewith a strong sense of disappointment. The post-Taliban democratic governmentcould not stop the bleeding. The heart-wrenching stories repeat one afteranother. Although the Taliban vowed, in Doha talks with Afghan politicalfigures, not to target civilians, the recent roadside bomb blast in Kandaharkilled and wounded tens of Afghan civilians, which were widely believed to becarried out by the Taliban. It suggested that the Taliban will not be trusted.
The gory incidents andhemorrhage suggest that the Taliban are not genuine in the peace talks. Thespate of terrorist attacks in recent months has added to public disappointmentand the public fear a deadlock in the talks.
The emergence ofdemocracy in the post-Taliban Afghanistan has sustained strong blows mainlyfrom the insurgent groups. Counting fatalities and hearing or readingheart-wrenching stories every day in a democratic country seem ridiculous. Thenonstop sufferings and heavy casualties in Afghanistan put democracy underserious question. I believe that a democratic country does not necessarily meanhaving only a democratic constitution when political rehearsal goes against it.The country's constitution hold people's rights, liberty and dignity in respect– this is in ideal world but violated realistically. In addition to having aconstitution based on democratic values, presidential and provincial elections,and parliament, protecting people's fundamental rights i.e. rights to life,liberty and estate and natural dignity is far significant for a democraticsociety.
It is hoped thegovernment will take high steps in safeguarding the rights and dignity ofAfghans and reinforce the soldiers to retaliate the past casualties. It isfurther prayed that Afghan nation will no further be a casualty of radicalmindsets and fundamental ideology of militant groups.
Martin Luther, aNobel Laureate, once said, 'Violence as a way of achieving racial justice isboth impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violenceoften brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won theirindependence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence neverbrings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new andmore complicated ones. Violence is impractical because it is a descendingspiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks tohumiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilaterather than convert.
To sum up, the reasonbehind all this violence are believed to be: practicing no religious tolerance;exercising fundamental ideology; claiming racial superiority; humiliating humanrights and dignity and treating one another with disdain. If human societies donot uphold the fundamental rights of mankind, violence and bloodshed willcontinue unabated.
Since conflict hasonly led to casualties and destruction, the warring sides have to resolve theirissues through meaningful talks so that all citizens, mainly civilians, couldlive a peaceful life.
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