The bloodthirsty butchers of innocent Afghans continued terror on Saturday June 30, 2012, killing 16 civilians and 8 policemen across the country. Massacre of civilians by Taliban have increased in recent months. With the bloodshed and atrocities, Taliban want to give a message to the people of Afghanistan that the forces of darkness want to impose their ideology of terrorism.
Saturday was the last bloodiest day of last month. Taliban have started increasingly targeting civilian places to spread fear among ordinary people. They have no respect for the lives of civilians. The bloodbath of Saturday shows Taliban is a terror group that wants to impose itself on people by gun, and it must be defeated militarily. The Government has been wasting its time with the policy of accommodating terrorists.
Four civilians including two children were killed on Saturday in Helmand when their bike hit a roadside bomb. On their way from Washir to Nad Ali, they became victim of a mine planted by Taliban. All four were killed on spot. Another civilian, a student, was killed in Logar province when a villager motorbike rider was hit by a bomb blast in Yawrak area. In both incidents, the roads are frequently used by Afghan troops. Taliban plant roadside mines and explosive devices to target Afghan or International troops but mostly innocent civilians become the victim.
Four other children were killed in Panjwai district of Kandahar when a mortar shell went off. The children were playing on ground, unknowingly with the mortar shell, when it blasted, killing all four on spot.
Similarly, two policemen were killed and 10 civilians injured when a bomb planted with a motorcycle went off in front of a crowded market in Paktia province.
Elsewhere in Nuristan, 14 people including 6 policemen and 8 civilians were killed by insurgents on Saturday. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
The US and NATO condemned the suicide attack and torching of civilian houses by Taliban in Nuristan province. The US Embassy said this reprehensible attack further illustrates that the Taliban and other insurgents have no respect for the lives of innocent Afghan civilians.
They expressed condolence to the family members of victims saying the United States mourns the loss of life in Kamdesh, and remains steadfast partner of the Afghan people against the scourge of international terrorism.
We urge the international troops to do more for safety of Afghan civilians and target Taliban insurgents in their strongholds.