According to a report released by the UN’s mission to Afghanistan on Tuesday, more than a thousand Afghan civilians have been killed in bombings and other acts of violence since the Taliban took over and foreign forces left in 2021.
Between August 15, 2021, and May 2023, the report by the UN Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that 1,095 civilians were killed and 2,679 were wounded, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the country even after decades of war.
The majority of the deaths, around 700, were caused by improvised explosive devices, including suicide bombings in public places like mosques, educational centers, and markets. While armed conflicts have significantly decreased since the Taliban takeover with the collapse of the Nato-backed military, security challenges persist, particularly from ISIS.
The extremist group has been responsible for the majority of the attacks, as noted by UNAMA. The report also highlighted that the deadliness of the attacks has increased despite fewer violent incidents. The Taliban has stated its focus on securing the country and has conducted operations against ISIS cells in recent months.
The report attributed just over 1,700 casualties, including injuries, to explosive attacks claimed by ISIS.
“UNAMA’s figures highlight not only the ongoing civilian harm resulting from such attacks, but an increase in the lethality of suicide attacks since August 15, 2021, with a smaller number of attacks causing a greater number of civilian casualties,” the report stated.
In response to the UN, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run foreign affairs ministry acknowledged security challenges during the war but claimed that the situation has improved since the Islamic Emirate took control.
“The security forces of the Islamic Emirate oblige themselves to ensure the security of the citizens and take timely action to uproot the safe havens of the terrorists,” the ministry said.
