News - Afghanistan

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are leading 80 percent of military operations in the east and southern parts of Afghanistan, Isaf Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Brig. Gen. Roger Nobel said in a press conference in Kabul Thursday.

Afghan special forces are involved in 75 percent of the overall operations, he said.

"In RC east and south, more than 80 percent of the operations are led by Afghans. The special forces units partnered with Isaf are now approaching a 75 percent share. Recently Afghan special forces were involved in 27 operations out of 35," Nobel said, adding that 90 percent of the training is now being run by the Afghan instructors.

Nobel added that insurgents are the cause of 81 percent of civilian casualties and Isaf and Afghan forces are responsible for 15 percent.

"Insurgents killed 81 percent of civilians [casualties], which is a conservative figure," he said. "The principal cause of injuries and death is improvised explosive devices. Isaf has caused 7 percent of the casualties, which is 53 percent down from the same period last year," he told reporters.

He said that the ANSF are responsible for 3 percent of casualties and 9 percent of deaths, and the remaining casualties are the result of unknown reasons.
The aim of Isaf is to bring civilian casualties to zero, he added.