By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. and NATO air strikes in Afghanistan have increased civilian casualties, nearly tripling the number of deaths from 2006 to 2007.  Although deaths have decreased this year, current air strikes undermine international protection efforts in Afghanistan.  These include the July 6, 2008 helicopter attack on two civilian vehicles that claimed 22 lives and the August 22, 2008 bombing in Azizabad.

“Rapid response air strikes have meant higher civilian casualties, while every bomb dropped in populated areas amplifies the chance of a mistake,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Mistakes by the U.S. and NATO have dramatically decreased public support for the Afghan government and the presence of international forces providing security to Afghans.”

Human Rights Watch reported on the use of air strikes by U.S. and NATO forces and its effect on civilians casualties during situations of lack of ground support and emergency, here.  It is reported that few civilian deaths resulted from planned strikes while all deaths occur from unplanned strikes.  The report also found that the Taliban often deployed their troops in populated villages in order for civilians to act as shield from counterattacks, in violation of the laws of war.

In July 2007, in response to the high level of civilian casualties, the International Security Assistance Force declared targeting tactic changes.  Employing smaller munitions, delaying attacks where civilians might be harmed, and turning over house-to-house searches to the Afghan National Army are among these changes.  Despite evidence that there was a reduction in the civilian death toll, civilian deaths still increased on account of air strikes just this past summer.  “The recent air strikes killing dozens of Afghans make clear that the system is still broken and that civilians continue to pay the ultimate price,” said Adams. “Civilian deaths from air strikes act as a recruiting tool for the Taliban and risk fatally undermining the international effort to provide basic security to the people of Afghanistan.”

For more information, please see:

Asia Times Online – Civilians Ravaged by US-NATO Bombs – 12 September 2008

CNN – Afghanistan:  Airstrikes Kill Civilians – 05 July 2008

Human Rights Watch – Afghanistan:  Civilian Deaths from Airstrikes – 08 September 2008