21 Killed, 5 Injured in Roadside Bomb Strike in Afghanistan
A roadside bomb strike targeted at a farm tractor’s trailer killed at least 21 people and injured five other in Garmser district of Southern Afghanistan, said police.
According to Helmand provincial police Chief Assadullah Sherzad, women and children were among the 21 dead and five wounded. They were going to a wedding ceremony.
It may be mentioned that Helmand is one of the most notorious bastions of Taliban violence. Roadside bombs are frequently used to attack foreign and Afghan forces in the region.
Media reports said that the Defence Ministry has confirmed the bombing and resultant death toll.
The incident shows that the militants, who have vowed to disrupt the elections, have markedly ramped up their attacks and magnified their use of roadside bombs this year.
As per UN figures, civilian deaths in the escalating war rose by 24% during the first half of 2009 as compared to the same period last year.
The UN blamed most of the casualties on Taliban attacks launched with little regard for civilian lives.
The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan also pointed to stepped-up military operations by the United States and its allies, especially air strikes.
But the report said that the number of civilians killed by the Taliban and other “anti-government forces” during the first half of the year was double those attributed to the US-led coalition and Afghan government forces.
The UN called that a “significant shift” from 2007, when the coalition was responsible for 41% of civilian deaths.
July was the bloodiest month for the US and Nato in the nearly eight-year war.
