Civilian death toll has become a running sore in the decades-long Afghan conflict. Despite calls for years on the warring sides to avoid civilian casualties, the problem has continued to aggravate. Just over the past week, tens of civilian Afghans lost their lives in operations carried out by Afghan and foreign troops. Thirty members of a family, including women and children, were martyred in a US airstrike in the Garmsir district of southern Helmand province. Only one member of the family has survived who has sustained injuries.
The Helmand incident is just a single example of the unending tragedy. On the one hand, Afghan people die on a daily basis in ground operations and airstrikes by Afghan and American forces in rural areas, but on the other hand, the militants have turned the cities into a living hell for people. There is no justification for civilian casualties under any rules and circumstances. All sides involved in the conflict must protect the lives and properties of civilians by strictly obeying the rules of war.
The pro-government forces, who have recently intensified their counterinsurgency operations, may reckon that they will weaken and finally force the militants, especially the Taliban to the negotiating table, but the reality is that civilian casualties caused in these operations do more harm than good to the government. They, if on the one hand can weaken the insurgents, but on the other hand help them take advantage of the disgruntled communities to draw new recruits. Taking into account the make-up of the conservative Afghan society, every incident of civilian casualties leaves not only one but several families devastated and grieving, as well as vengeful towards the government. Those not getting justice are left with one option: to retaliate, and the side to exact the revenge on is clear: the Afghan government.
Since they are unable to target foreigners, they wreck vengeance on their fellow Afghans. Leaders of the National Unity Government and all other Afghan politicians should not underestimate the threat of continued civilian casualties, because they are a major driver of the ongoing conflict that, if continue, can eliminate the possibility of end of the war. Therefore, the government and politicians should work together to prevent civilian casualties, thereby dousing the inflaming instinct of revenge.