Afghanistan rejects record rise in military casualties
Authorities in Kabul have denied media reports of a drastic rise in the number of casualties among Afghan security forces, who are engaged in heavy battles with Taliban militants across the war-torn country.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry spokesman General Dawlat Waziri rejected the reported 75-percent rise in casualties among Afghan security forces in the first half of 2015, saying the number has increased only by 3.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
Earlier, data provided in some media reports showed the number of casualties among Afghan army and police forces have soared by 75 percent. According to the reports, most of the casualties were due to a lack of lethal weapons and logistics.
Earlier on Saturday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that at least 70 militants have been killed and 10 others wounded over the past two days in large-scale operations in several provinces.
Senior Afghan officials have voiced concern over the worsening security situation in the country since the Taliban’s so-called spring offensive began in late April. The militants have vowed to increase their attacks against Afghan and foreign forces.
Afghanistan is experiencing insecurity nearly 14 years after the US and its NATO allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
The US-led NATO combat mission ended in Afghanistan on December 31, 2014. However, nearly 14000 foreign troops, mainly Americans, have remained in the country in what Washington calls a support mission.
JR/MKA/HMV
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