The Unspoken Toll: Us Actions And Afghan Civilian Deaths

The US war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on civilians, with a significant number of deaths. While the exact number of civilian casualties is difficult to determine due to the complexities of the conflict, estimates suggest that over 40,000 civilians may have died as a direct result of the war. This figure includes those killed by bombs, bullets, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and drones. Additionally, the war has indirectly contributed to deaths due to factors such as malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, environmental degradation, and a battered infrastructure. The impact of the war has been exacerbated by the United States' decision to relax its rules of engagement for airstrikes in 2017, resulting in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties. The conflict has also left deep psychological wounds, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health issues according to a 2009 report by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health.

US airstrike policy

The US airstrike policy has been a controversial aspect of the War on Terror, with critics arguing that it has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians.

The US airstrike policy has evolved over the years, with different administrations taking different approaches. The George W. Bush administration was the first to use armed drones in the aftermath of 9/11. The Obama administration expanded the use of drone strikes and maintained a "kill list" of potential targets. The Trump administration loosened restrictions on organisations conducting strikes and their reporting requirements. The Biden administration's policy appears to return to the Obama-era playbook of 2016, which established an interagency checklist to conduct a strike.

The US airstrike policy has been criticised for its lack of transparency and accountability. The Defense Department has been accused of suppressing information about civilian casualties and refusing to disclose statistics. The use of terms like "self-defence" and "imminent threat" has also been controversial, with critics arguing that the US has stretched their operational definitions to justify strikes that may not be proportional to the threat.

In Afghanistan specifically, US airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties. The rules for using airstrikes have been tightened over the years, with the aim of reducing civilian deaths. However, even with these restrictions in place, civilian casualties have occurred due to errors in target identification and collateral damage. The Afghan government has repeatedly criticised US and NATO forces for not taking enough care to avoid civilian casualties.

US airstrikes in Afghanistan have not only resulted in direct civilian casualties but also contributed to the destruction of infrastructure, environmental damage, and the contamination of land with unexploded ordnance. The long-term effects of US airstrikes have included displacement, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare and education.

To address these issues, the US airstrike policy should focus on improving target identification to avoid civilian casualties, minimising collateral damage, and conducting thorough after-action reviews to learn from past mistakes. Ensuring transparency and accountability in reporting civilian casualties is also crucial. Additionally, the US should increase its efforts to clear Afghan land of explosive hazards and provide support for rebuilding infrastructure and addressing the indirect costs of war.

US-armed Afghan militia groups

The CIA has armed and funded Afghan militia groups, which have been implicated in grave human rights abuses and the killings of civilians. These groups, intended to fight Islamist militants, have instead targeted local officials and fought local turf wars.

One such commander, Perim Qul, in the northern province of Takhar, received about $85,000 to arm 500 men. However, he used that money to fund a private prison where he beat and extorted local people. His men have even killed a local politician.

The US military has turned a blind eye to the activities of these militias, perhaps because regular Afghan forces are stretched so thin that they depend on vigilante militias.

The militias are considered by some to be a greater threat to Afghanistan's stability than the Taliban. Militia members have little adherence to established norms of conduct in war, and have often been the cause of state collapse.

The creation of the Afghan Local Police force, active in 117 districts, is a debatable issue in Afghanistan, with many arguing that it has brought more instability than security. The Afghan government has implemented guidelines to control and regulate the armed groups, but with many state leaders operating as leaders of these groups, it is difficult to monitor their accountability and legitimacy.

International organizations such as Human Rights Watch have reported on abuses and ethnic violence against civilians conducted by different types of armed groups, including those supported by the government. In many districts and provinces, including Kunduz and Parwan, part of the population has even welcomed the Taliban because they are tired of these kinds of abuses.

US post-9/11 wars

The US post-9/11 wars refer to the series of conflicts initiated by the US government in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Led by President George W. Bush, the US embarked on a "global war on terror", involving military operations in over 85 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Pakistan.

The human toll of these wars has been immense, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. As of May 2023, it is estimated that 432,093 civilians have died as a direct result of the US post-9/11 wars, with the total death toll, including indirect deaths, reaching 4.5-4.7 million. In Afghanistan alone, over 70,000 civilians are estimated to have died as a direct result of the war. The true number of civilian deaths is likely higher due to the challenges of data collection in active war zones and the indirect consequences of conflict, such as malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation.

The US post-9/11 wars have also resulted in mass population displacements, with 38 million people displaced by the wars. The financial costs of these wars are staggering, with the US government spending an estimated $2.3 trillion in Afghanistan and Pakistan alone, and $8 trillion overall on the post-9/11 wars.

The impact of these wars extends beyond the conflict zones, with US allies contributing troops and suffering losses. The wars have also had domestic consequences in the US, with expanded executive powers and a more militarized domestic law enforcement.

The US post-9/11 wars have spanned multiple presidential administrations and have been characterized by a focus on counterterrorism and military solutions, often at the expense of diplomatic and political efforts. The decision-making processes and strategies employed in these wars have been the subject of significant criticism and reflection, particularly in light of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

US drone strikes

Since the September 11 attacks, the United States has carried out drone strikes in Afghanistan as part of a targeted killing campaign against militants. While the precise number of civilian deaths is impossible to determine, tracking estimates are compiled by organisations such as the Long War Journal, the New America Foundation, and the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

The US military has, at times, conducted in-depth investigations into civilian deaths caused by drone strikes, and these have resulted in the military publicly acknowledging and explaining the reasons behind the harm, providing condolence payments to families, and holding accountable those who violated the law. However, in many cases, the military failed to conduct effective investigations.

In 2019, a US drone strike in the restive Khogyani district of Nangarhar province killed scores of Afghan civilians. According to Ajmal Ummer, a provincial assembly member, at least 30 pine nut collectors were killed and 40 others were wounded in the attack. Amnesty International USA called on US forces in Afghanistan to ensure that all precautions are taken to avoid civilian casualties in military operations.

In 2021, a US drone strike in Kabul killed nine people, including three children, from the same family. The US Central Command stated that it was assessing the possibility of civilian casualties, reporting that the vehicle targeted was carrying explosives and suicide bombers who were set to target Kabul airport imminently.

In 2013, a NATO airstrike in the Kunar province of Afghanistan left 11 civilians dead, including 10 children. That same year, a US drone strike in the Kunar province killed at least 20 civilians, including 12 children.

In 2012, UNAMA documented 7,559 Afghan casualties, of which 2,754 were deaths and 4,805 were injuries. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were the leading cause of civilian deaths, accounting for 41% of fatalities.

While the number of civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces decreased by 23% in 2012, the overall number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan increased by 330% from the last year of the Obama administration to the last full year of recorded data during the Trump administration.

US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 marked the end of America's longest war. The decision to withdraw US troops was largely supported by the American public, with 54% of Americans in agreement with the decision, according to a survey conducted in August 2021. However, the withdrawal was not without its challenges and has had significant consequences for Afghanistan.

The US-led war in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. While the exact number of civilian casualties is difficult to determine, estimates range from 47,245 to more than 70,000. Airstrikes have been a significant contributor to civilian deaths, with at least 22,000 civilians killed in US airstrikes during the war on terror, of which approximately 4,800 were in Afghanistan. The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan increased as the US relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in the country in 2017, resulting in a dramatic increase in civilian deaths.

The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan led to the collapse of the Afghan government and the return of Taliban control. This has had a significant impact on the lives of Afghans, particularly women and girls, who now face restrictions on their education and participation in public life. The Taliban's restrictions on civil society and the segregation of women and girls have led to protests by brave Afghan women and girls, despite the risks they face.

The economic situation in Afghanistan has also deteriorated following the US withdrawal, with the country facing a collapsed economy and a humanitarian crisis. Sanctions and the cutting off of aid have contributed to the economic collapse, and half of the population is now facing food insecurity. The UN has warned that the country is headed towards "universal poverty", and there are concerns about mass starvation among Afghan civilians.

The US withdrawal has also had consequences for America's reputation and global standing. The chaotic nature of the withdrawal, including the desperate scenes at Kabul's airport as thousands tried to flee the country, has been widely criticized. There have also been questions about the lack of preparation and the failure to anticipate the rapid fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

In conclusion, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had far-reaching consequences for both Afghanistan and the United States. While the end of America's longest war may have been a relief for many, the aftermath has highlighted the need for a more thoughtful and comprehensive approach to foreign policy and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.

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