KABUL: The number of Afghan civilians killed in the country’s long-running conflict hit a record high in the first six months of this year, UN figures showed on Sunday, with militant attacks and suicide bombs the leading causes of death.

The toll of 1,692 fatalities was one per cent more than a year earlier and the highest for the period since the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) began keeping records in 2009.

Another 3,430 people were wounded in the war, down five per cent from the same period last year, the report said. Overall civilian casualties — 5,122 — fell three per cent year on year.

Hours after the report was released a suicide attacker blew himself up at a government ministry in Kabul, killing at least seven people, including civilians. More than 15 were wounded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion outside the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

Seven people killed in latest suicide attack

Ministry spokesman Fraidoon Azhand said the bomber struck at a security gate as employees were exiting the compound during rush hour.

The record high death toll, meanwhile, came despite an unprecedented ceasefire by Afghan security forces and the Taliban last month that was largely respected by both sides, UNAMA said.

The ceasefire for the first three days of Eidul Fitr was marked by scenes of jubilation as security forces and Taliban fighters celebrated the holiday, raising hopes that peace was possible after nearly 17 years of conflict.

But the suspension of hostilities was marred by two suicide attacks in the eastern province of Nangarhar that killed dozens of people and were claimed by the militant Islamic State (IS) group, which was not part of the ceasefire.

The Taliban refused a government request to extend the truce, returning to the battlefield and ignoring calls to enter talks with Kabul to end the war.

“The brief ceasefire demonstrated that the fighting can be stopped and that Afghan civilians no longer need to bear the brunt of the war,” Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN secretary general’s special representative for Afghanistan, said.

“We urge parties to seize all opportunities to find a peaceful settlement — this is the best way that they can protect all civilians.”

Suicide bombs and “complex” attacks that involve several militants accounted for 1,413 casualties — 427 deaths and 986 injuries — up 22 per cent from a year earlier. If that trend continues, the figure will top the 2017 full-year record of nearly 2,300 casualties.

UNAMA attributed 52 per cent of civilian casualties from suicide and complex attacks to IS, mainly in Kabul and Nangarhar where the group established a stronghold after emerging in Afghanistan in 2014. The Taliban were responsible for 40 per cent.

While the Taliban are Afghanistan’s largest militant group and hold or contest more territory than any other, IS has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to carry out devastating attacks in urban areas.

The latest report comes almost a year after US President Donald Trump announced his new South Asia strategy that involved ramping up American air strikes against militants.

Civilians have paid a heavy toll for the intensified aerial bombing campaign, with 353 casualties recorded in the first half of the year, up 52 per cent on last year, UNAMA said. More than half of the civilian casualties were caused by the Afghan Air Force.

One of the worst incidents was in the northern province of Kunduz in April when an Afghan air strike on an outdoor religious gathering killed or wounded 107 people, mostly children, a previous UNAMA report said. The government and military said a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks had been attacked.

UNAMA also recorded 341 civilian casualties in election-related violence — a trend that is expected to worsen as the October 20 legislative ballot draws closer.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018