Afghan troop deaths reaches 3 000
2013-03-20 22:15
Kabul - Almost 3 000 Afghan police and soldiers have been
killed in the last 12 months, nearly the same as the number of Nato deaths in
Afghanistan in the last 11 years of war, Kabul said on Wednesday.
In statistics marking the end of the lunar year in
Afghanistan, the interior and defence ministries said 2 983 security personnel –
1 800 police and 1 183 soldiers - lost their lives from March 2012 to March
2013.
According to the independent website, icasualties.org, 3 270
coalition troops, including 2 190 Americans, have died since the invasion
started in late 2001.
Afghan police and soldiers have been set up and trained
by Nato to take on increasing responsibility for security as Nato combat troops
gradually withdraw from the country by the end of 2014.
Today numbered at 330 000 and due to reach a target of
352 000, they have been increasingly targeted by Taliban insurgents fighting to
evict the Western-backed administration in Kabul.
"It is a pity but understandable why we have
witnessed such a huge loss of life and increase in ANSF [Afghan security force]
casualties since they started taking responsibility from international
troops," said analyst Jawed Kohistani.
"Given the fact that there has not been any
effective strategy from the Afghan defence or interior ministries to deal with
Taliban guerrilla warfare tactics, we can expect more loss of life," he
added.
In 2012, 402 Nato members died in Afghanistan, the lowest
number since 2008.
