By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
MAIWAND, Afghanistan – A roadside bomb planted beneath a crowded inner-city bus travelling along the fringes of Kandahar killed 20 civilians on Tuesday. Among the dead were 10 children. Additionally, many more civilians incurred injuries from impact and debris. The blast left the bus burning and twisted, demonstrating the power of militant groups’ improvised explosive devices (IED). The victims of the blast were rushed to a nearby hospital in Kandahar.
This latest attack signifies the increasing danger Afghan civilians must face when traversing public roads. Although roadside bombs are utilized to kill foreign troops, over 1,500 Afghanistan civilians have fallen victim to these lethal mechanisms. The western district in which this tragedy occurred has long been a zone of combat between insurgents and Western armed forces. As a result, many varieties of traps remain strewn about the city streets. Afghan citizens often travel along roads used by Western military forces where enemy combatants lay roadside bombs and other IEDs. A Taliban spokesperson stated that the organization does not intentionally target civilians, disclaiming responsibility for the attack. However, despite the designs of the Taliban and other insurgent factions, IED’s, the deadliest weapons used in Afghanistan, continue to indiscriminately take the lives of the innocent.
The attack in Maiwand exacerbates over 8 years of war-weariness and discontent felt among the Afghan population. While a seemingly fruitless war against terrorism continually plagues their land, this summer’s questionable elections suggest that the corrupt officials have moved to silence the political voice of the people. These travesties represent a violation of Afghan nationals’ fundamental rights to live in peace and democratic right to participate in the selection of their leaders.
The Obama administration continues to formulate strategies for the Afghanistan front, yet the Taliban and other militant organizations steadily exploit violence to demonstrate their presence in key areas. Members of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization have expressed pessimism in the West’s ability to prevail in this war. Until the West begins employing effective tactics, it seems Afghan civilians must continue living in fear of being caught in the tides of war.
For more information, please see:
Al-Jazeera – Dozens die in Afghan roadside blast – 29 September 2009
The L.A. Times – 30 killed when Afghan bus hit roadside bomb – 29 September 2009
Yahoo! News – Taliban roadway attacks spread fear in Afghanistan – 29 September 2009
