Prevention of Civilian Casualties, One of the Objectives of the Islamic Emirate

The readers know that the report published by UNAMA regarding civilian casualties on 6 February has big difference with the report prepared and published by the Department of Prevention of Civilian Casualties of the Islamic Emirate. On asks how such a big difference can emerge whereas both sides gather information regarding the same incidents? After a little bit pondering, we reach a conclusion that definition and methodology of investigation of incidents by both sides are different. The investigating teams of the Islamic Emirate visit sites of incidents, talk to victims and witnesses of incidents and directly collect information from victims while the UN Human Rights section relies on the information of others and verifies information from second or third hand sources. Therefore, many incidents which have no link to the Mujahideen are attributed to the Islamic Emirate.

Prevention of civilian casualties is a Sharia-based responsibility of the Islamic Emirate. Allah, the Almighty says in Surah Fath, verse 29:

 “Those who are with him are hard on the unbelievers but merciful to one another. You see them bow and prostrate themselves, (in prayer) seeking the grace of Allah and His good pleasure. Mark of them on their faces, from the effect of prostrations” (Chapter: 48, Verse: 29)

Therefore, this responsibility constitutes the essential part of the Islamic Emirate’s policy. It is to be mentioned that the Islamic Emirate is not an external force like the invaders. This is their country and their own people. The sons of this nation have come together in its rank and files against the occupation. How is it possible that they would target their own people or harm them? Is it conceivable that civilian casualties attributed to the invaders who have come from abroad, usurped all our recourses and who consider our people, trees and plants as their enemies can be responsible for a negligible number of civilian casualties whereas the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are held responsible for most of the incidents?

There are hundreds of examples of invading troops and their domestic allies martyring women, children and old people under the slogan of terrorists in the past one and a half decade. Likewise, they have destroyed our villages and gardens. The recent are the gruesome incidents of Boz-e-Kandahari of Kunduz and Sangin of Helmand province, once again proving their claim of humanitarianism being false and futile. Unfortunately, their domestic allies are used as fodder for the imperialistic plans of the invaders. They give incorrect coordinates and sacrifice their own people for the objectives of the foreigners.

UN is an international organization. They have to maintain their dignity and impartiality. Furthermore, reporting on civilian casualties should not be used as a political weapon because a one-sided report damages its own credibility.

It is worth mentioning that the Islamic Emirate has extended its cooperation to the Human Rights Department of UNAMA and would continue to do so in future, with an aim to prevent civilian casualties. The Islamic Emirate considers it to be in line with the interests of its people and as per its policy. But, the UNAMA Human Rights Department should also admit and look into our recommendations and the ground realities, so that we will reach a real solution of this vital issue.