Human Rights Watch warned about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops in the country. In its annual report for 2010, human rights groups say security has deteriorated in some areas of Afghanistan, irrespective of additional U.S. troops last year. The report said that two U.S. operations in Kandahar and Helmand in 2010 made thousands of Afghan civilians have become displaced and increasing militancy in the two provinces.
Afghans burn tires during a protest, Thursday, after a Wednesday night military raid resulted in the death of an Afghan lawmaker's brother-in-law. (Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP)
According to UN data, more than 2,100 Afghan civilians lost their lives in the first nine months of 2010. Nearly 100,000 American troops already stationed in the Asian country and many more are expected to soon join them. The development came as the latest report said that the US-led military operations have caused damage to public property worth 100 million dollars in southern Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly criticized the foreign troops for committing serious crimes against civilians and their property in the country.
Criticism came after the foreign troops to cut thousands of trees and cause serious damage to public property in the province of Ghazni. Meanwhile, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, retired Marine Gen. Arnold Fields, reported that billions of dollars in U.S. tax money used to train, equip, and support the Afghan security forces will probably end up in vain.
“The issue is endangering the entire U.S. investment worth 11.4 billion dollars in building the Afghan National Security Forces facility for not meeting the needs or objectives Afghan and ended in vain,” said Fields.
The general then showed that the development of Afghan army and police, which is a key element in the administration plans to withdraw U.S. forces in late 2012, is in danger.