By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan– The fierce battle against the Taliban in Pakistan has taken to the streets. As the Pakistani military advances towards Mingora; the stronghold of the Taliban in Swat, the number of civilian casualties has exponentially increased. Civilians on ground and international agencies blame the Taliban and the army equally.

In response to the Pakistani military’s advancement, the Taliban have heavily mined Mingora and prevented many civilians from fleeing. The UN based Human Rights Watch said that the Taliban were using innocent civilians as “human shields” to deter attack. Human Rights Watch further reported that the Pakistani army itself was not taking precautionary measures when conducting aerial and artillery attacks which has resulted in even more civilian casualties.

Defense and political analyst, Talat Masood, reported that the Pakistani army was engaged in a frontal combat; something even the US troops did not engage in extensively in Afghanistan. As a result of this fight, the enemy is vulnerable and in close firing range from the army.

The civilians are just as close.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Pakistani Troops Fight the Taliban on the Streets – 18 May 2009
Daily KOS –A FailSafe Plan to Reduce Civillian Casualties – 21 May 2009
South Asia News – Pakistanis Angered over Civillian Deaths – 19 May 2009