November 04, 2016

Afghanistan: Losing the battle of hearts and minds

editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

Back to back incidents of mass civilian casualties in Afghanistan have seriously undermined the credibility of the nascent Afghan forces as well as their international allies; particularly the U.S.

The U.S forces hit a residential compound in eastern Nangarhar province in September where according to the locals, civilians had gathered to welcome a local elder from the Hajj pilgrimage. 18 people were killed in this attack.This was followed by more deadly air raids by the U.S. and Afghan forces in northern Kunduz province on November 03. Officials have confirmed some 30 civilians, including women and children died in these raids but, locals claims the figure of civilian casualties in these attacks are much higher.

The strategic city of Kunduzbordering Tajikistanhas twice been briefly captured by the Taliban in a year’s time possibly because the local population is fed-up with the local anti-Taliban warlords and the NATO forces.

It is worth remembering that Kunudz was the site of a similar tragedy some 7 years ago when responding to a call by German forces, an American F-15E fighter jet struck two fuel tankers captured by Taliban insurgents, killing over 90 civilians in the attack. This incident took place on 4 September 2009.

Then again, On 3 October 2015, a United States Air Force AC-130U gunship attacked the Kunduz Trauma Centre operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders in Kunduz, killing at least 42 people, including medical staff, and over 30 were injured

A UN report on Afghanistan published in July showed a record number of civilian casualties since counting began in 2009, with 5,166 civilians recorded killed or maimed in just the first six months of this year, of whom almost one-third were children. The total civilian casualty figure recorded by the UN between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2016 has risen to 63,934, including 22,941 deaths and 40,993 injured.

In Afghanistan, where the Taliban, the ISIS and other militants are already very active with the propaganda on the social media, such incidents can easily deprive the Afghan and international forces the hard-earned respect and legitimacy, which can ultimately turn the tables on them in this long battle.