The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) office in Balkh province said on Tuesday that they are concerned about civilian casualties in northern provinces, saying numbers have increased in the north since last year.
 
The AIHRC said that 54 civilians have been killed since the start of the year (1398) and urged all warring sides to prevent civilian casualties.
 
According to AIHRC, since March 2019, at least 54 civilians have been killed in the northern regions of the country during the violence.

“Unfortunately the figures have increased this year in 1398 (Since March of 2019)--we have registered at least 221 people killed and wounded during this period,” said a member of the AIHRC in Balkh.
 
Residents of Balkh province also criticized the civilian casualties and said that two nights ago seven members of a family were killed in an Afghan security forces’ raid in Boka village in Balkh district of Balkh province.
 
“Everywhere they have brought problems-- martyred, and injured people,” said Najeeb, another resident of Balkh.
 
Meanwhile, Jawid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, said that civilian casualties have become a big problem.
 
“The Afghan government has acted in the past to prevent civilians’ casualties, but until now the goal has not been achieved,” added Faisal.
 
“The military officials of Balkh and the 209 Shaheen Corps have received serious instruction on how to prevent civilian casualties,” Said Ahmad Monir Farhad, spokesman for Balkh’s governor.
 
The head of the Balkh provincial council, and members of civil society, are also concerned about the lack of security and civilian casualties.
 
Afzal Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council, said: “The family who lost their dear ones today are grieving-- we are with them in the sorrow, and we will pursue the case.”
 
“The unplanned, and accelerated operations of the security forces cause civilian casualties, and people expressed their concerns about that,” said Najib Paikan, a civil society activist.