Kabul: The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan reached record numbers in the first half of the year despite last month's ceasefire, with a surge in suicide attacks claimed by ISIS, said the UN on Sunday.

Deaths rose 1% to 1,692, although injuries dropped 5% to 3,430, said the UN assistance mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its latest civilian casualty report. Overall civilian casualties were down 3%.

Hopes that peace may one day be established in Afghanistan were raised last month by a three-day truce over the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which saw unprecedented scenes of Taliban fighters mingling with security forces in Kabul and other cities.

"The brief ceasefire demonstrated that the fighting can be stopped and that Afghan civilians no longer need to bear the brunt of the war," said senior UN official in Afghanistan, Yamamoto, in a statement.

But with heavy fighting witnessed across the country during the first half of the year and repeated suicide attacks in Kabul and major provincial cities like Jalalabad, the security situation in Afghanistan remains dire.

It also pointed to increased activity by ISIS, reflected in a doubling in casualties in Nangarhar, the eastern province whose capital is Jalalabad, where the militant group has conducted a series of attacks over recent months.

Ministry attacked 

The main causes of casualties were ground engagements between security forces and militants, roadside bombs, as well as suicide and other so-called complex attacks, which caused 22% more casualties than in the same period last year.

Hundreds of civilians were killed in attacks on targets as diverse as Shi'ite shrines, offices of government ministries and aid groups, sports events and voter registration stations.

On Sunday, the day the report was issued, at least seven people were killed and more than 15 wounded by a suicide attack as staff at a government ministry were going home.

The report said that two thirds of civilian casualties were caused by anti-government forces, mainly the Taliban and ISIS.

Fifty-two percent of the casualties from suicide and complex attacks were attributed to Islamic State, often known as Daesh, while 40% were attributed to the Taliban.

The Taliban, who say they take great care to avoid civilian casualties, issued a statement rejecting the report as "one sided" and accused UNAMA of working in close coordination with US authorities to push propaganda against them.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for October, there is concern about greater violence as polling day approaches.

The Taliban, fighting to restore their version of strict Islamic law, have rejected President Ashraf Ghani's offer of peace talks, demanding that foreign forces leave Afghanistan.

(Reuters)

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