The annual report of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) shows that over 8,500 civilians in Afghanistan were killed and wounded due to war and violence in 2020.
 
Based on the AIHRC report,  up to 3,000 Afghan civilians were killed and over 5,000 were wounded in war in 2020.
 
The report states that civilian casualties in Afghanistan dropped 21 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
 
In the report, unknown armed groups were the second highest cause of casualties after the Taliban.
 
“Civilian casualties are still very high, we can say that there is a catastrophe going on in Afghanistan,” said Naeem Nazari, the deputy head of the AIHRC.
 
Based on the report, the Taliban were responsible for 4568 deaths and injuries of civilians during this period, the unknown groups were responsible for killing and wounding  2107, while the security forces were blamed for 1188 deaths and injuries.
 
But the Taliban rejected the report.
 
“The Taliban in recent times has committed major crimes without taking responsibility for them. The Taliban have martyred thousands of our civilian compatriots,” said Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.
 
In 2018 and 2019, complex suicide attacks and car bombing incidents caused most of the casualties.
 
However, in 2020 targeted killings, assassinations and magnetic mine explosions claimed the most civilian lives, and, more worryingly, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks.