HRW criticises US, NATO for 'collateral damage' in Afghanistan

New York, Sept 9 (PTI) Concerned over continuing civilian
casualties in the airstrikes by the U.S. and North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation (N.A.T.O.) forces in Afghanistan, a
leading human rights watchdog has criticised them for major
'collateral damage' and asked to fix the issue.

In a 43-page report, "Troops in Contact: Airstrikes and
Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan", released Monday, estimates
that in 2006, at least 929 Afghan civilians were killed in the
fighting.

Of these, 699 died during Taliban attacks (including
suicide bombings and other bombings unlawfully targeting
civilians) while at least 230 in U.S. or N.A.T.O. attacks.

It also criticised the "poor response" by U.S. officials
when civilian deaths occur."

Prior to conducting investigations into airstrikes
causing civilian loss, U.S. officials often immediately deny
responsibility for civilian deaths or place all blame on the
Taliban, the report stated.

Warning that such incidents erode the confidence of
people in both the government and international forces, the
Human Rights Watch (H.R.W.) said more civilian casualties
occured during rapid response operations than planned
airstrike on the Taliban targets.

In 2007, at least 1,633 Afghan civilians were killed in
the armed conflict. Of those, some 950 died during attacks by
the various insurgent forces, including the Taliban and
al-Qaeda. Whereas, a total of 321 were killed by the U.S. or
N.A.T.O. airstrikes. Thus, civilian deaths from U.S. and
N.A.T.O. airstrikes nearly tripled from 2006 to 2007, it said.

In the first seven months of 2008, as many as 540
Afghan civilians were killed. At least 367 of them died during
attacks by the various insurgent forces and 173 during US or
N.A.T.O. attacks, the report said.

Human Rights Watch found few civilian deaths resulted
from planned airstrikes, while almost all deaths occurred in
unplanned airstrikes.

"Rapid response airstrikes 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.

The US needs to end the mistakes that are killing so many
civilians, he said, adding that the Washington must also take
responsibility, including by providing timely compensation,
when its airstrikes kill Afghan civilians.

Human Rights Watch found that few civilians casualties
occurred as the result of planned airstrikes on suspected
Taliban targets.

To respond to public concern and complaints from
President Hamid Karzai, in July 2007 the N.A.T.O.-led
International Security Assistance Force (I.S.A.F.) announced
several changes in targeting tactics, the report noted.

These changes include employing smaller munitions,
delaying attacks where civilians might be harmed, and turning
over house-to-house searches to the Afghan National Army."

A review of available evidence suggests that the changes
had some impact, as there was a significant drop in civilian
casualties due to airstrikes in the last half of 2007, even as
the overall tonnage of bombs dropped increased," the watchdog
said.

It welcomed these changes in targeting, but remained
concerned by continuing civilian casualties in the airstrikes.