BADGHIS PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan Local Police and district government officials are investigating a roadside blast site where an insurgent-placed improvised explosive device reportedly killed a young boy near Chapchal village, Morghab district, Mar. 2.
The explosion occurred in the hills just south of the village as ALP leaders from Chapchal and Afghan government officials met to discuss security in the area. The boy’s father reported that the child had been running and playing when the blast occurred.
According to Mirza Khan, Chapchal ALP commander, the IED was probably meant to target the ALP or Morghab district leadership who have been meeting on a regular basis to strengthen the local and district level coordination for security throughout the valley.
After ALP secured the blast site, Kahn and other leaders met with Chapchal village elders and the boy’s family to express condolences and offer further assistance.
The Morghab River Valley is a historically significant geographic location and has become increasingly important to the Afghan government as an economic artery. Roadways and ancient trade routes to neighboring countries and eastern Europe flow through the valley, which makes it an ideal location for the government to improve development and assist local businesses.
For nearly two years ALP in the Morghab district has been assisted by coalition special operations forces to increase security, eliminate the insurgent threat and establish an atmosphere conducive for Afghans to protect and govern themselves. The Afghan local, district and national leadership have increasingly taken the lead in these areas, with little or no assistance from coalition forces.
According to the coalition SOF team leader, who mentors the Chapchal ALP, careless insurgent tactics have contributed to all civilian casualties in the Morghab district in the last year. As insurgent forces grow weaker and disconnected from their own leadership, their tactics demonstrate complete lack of concern for the Afghan people.
A United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan report released Feb. 4 found that civilian deaths in Afghanistan rose eight percent in 2011, with 3,021 civilians killed. Almost eighty percent of those deaths are attributable to anti-Afghan insurgents, the report said. While civilian casualties caused by insurgents continue to rise, civilian casualties resulting from pro-Afghan efforts are steadily decreasing.
The report found that the tactics of insurgents are largely responsible for the rise in civilian deaths. Improvised explosive devices were the largest killer of Afghan children, women and men in 2011. Victim-activated IEDs cannot choose their targets, and require only slight pressure – such as that of a child’s footstep – to explode.
According to the UN, these statistics are gathered annually to coordinate efforts to protect civilians, though published statistics suggest that insurgents are increasing their use of these bombs, despite the danger to civilians.
“It’s truly tragic to see indiscriminate attacks on the Afghan people especially when it affects the children and our hearts go out to the family of the boy killed and the village of Chapchal,” said Maj. Sean Kuehl, spokesman for Special Operations Task Force-West. “The Afghan Local Police in the Morghab district have made enormous strides to establish their own security, in concert with the Afghan government, and are leading the way in providing safety throughout the valley.”
The Afghan Local Police, assisted by coalition special operations forces, are resolved to continue protecting local communities in the Badghis province from insurgent attempts to gain ground through violence, fear and intimidation of the Afghan people.
| Date Taken: |
03.02.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
03.03.2012 06:42 |
| Story ID: |
84678 |
| Location: |
BADGHIS PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
288 |
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