Afghanistan: 36 killed during week of reduced violence

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL (AA) - A total of 14 civilians and 22 security personnel were killed in Taliban attacks during the landmark reduction in violence (RIV) week, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said on Saturday.

The RIV week was observed from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28 in line with the peace deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban on Saturday.

Over these seven days, the Taliban carried out armed attacks, abductions, and roadside blasts in 16 of the country’s 34 provinces, the AIHRC said.

It also confirmed that five Taliban insurgents were killed during the RIV week.

Despite the 36 reported deaths, the AIHRC said the figure was remarkably lower than the 27 civilian deaths and 51 injuries of the previous week.

“The figures show a 28% decrease in violence during the RIV week,” the commission said in a report.

AIHRC chief Shaharzad Akbar stressed that the road ahead for peace will not be easy.

“We will certainly have setbacks, mistrusts and frustration. But if anyone thought war was ever worth trying, we should try a thousand times more to end it and achieve a lasting peace,” she said.

With the RIV week having passed, the next step to build mutual confidence will be the release of prisoners by the Afghan government and the Taliban, security analyst Brig. Ali Khail told Anadolu Agency.

"What is encouraging to see is that there have been compromises on all sides. The Taliban now seem willing to talk to the Afghan government, the government has already compromised on its demand for a complete cease-fire, and the U.S. does not seem to be sidelining the Afghan government any more,” he said.

According to the local Azadi Radio, the Afghan government has about 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the group has 1,000 captives.