Afghan Human Rights Commission Concerned Over Civilian Casualties in the North

At present, seven districts, as well as those around the Balkh-Jawzjan highway and the Dar-e-Suf to Mazar-e-Sharif highway, are facing major security threats with a number of civilians killed. The highest number of civilian casualties was recorded in Chamtal, Chahar Bolak and Balkh districts of Balkh province.

Statistics show that the Taliban is responsible for most of the civilian casualties.
“The Taliban are coming from all around – forests and mountains – on two, four, six motorcycles. They enter an area and throw their belongings. It’s a problem for the people,” said Balkh police chief Samunwal Ajmal Faiz. During the fighting, both the security forces and the Taliban use the civilian’s homes as trenches, and people as shields.
In the latest case, residents of Balkh district claimed nine civilians had been killed and 11 others wounded in airstrikes by government forces. Army officials in the north said the Taliban were using civilians to destroy part of the Balkh-Jawzjan highway. These people were the targets of the government airstrikes.