U.S. military decides to conceal key data on Afghan forces

AVA- The classified data includes casualties, personnel strength, attrition, capability assessments, and operational readiness of equipment, said a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

U.S. Forces in Afghanistan said that the casualty belonged to the Afghan government, and the government had requested that it be classified, according to SIGAR’s quarterly report to the U.S. Congress.

SIGAR warned that the move will hinder its ability to publicly report on progress or failure in a key reconstruction sector, which has received majority of U.S. funding.

This is not the first time that U.S. military refuses to provide details on Afghan forces. In 2015 too, the Obama administration tried to classify information to portray the war in Afghanistan as all but over.

The recent move comes as Trump administration ramps up the conflict, including sending thousands more troops and increased airstrikes.

After withdrawal of most of international troops in 2014, Afghan forces who have taken the lead, have been suffering higher casualties.

Last year, more than 6,700 deaths and around 12,000 wounded were reported among the Afghan forces.

The latest SIGAR report on casualties released in July showed that 2,531 Afghan forces were killed while 4,238 more wounded from the beginning of the year through May 8.