Kabul, August 16: The Taliban waging a vicious insurgency in Afghanistan have signaled a willingness to cooperate with international forces, the UN and human rights groups to investigate civilian deaths in the war.
A committee “should be formed to assess the very issue and conduct investigations into the civilian casualties across the country,” the Taliban said in a statement late last night.
The probe should include representatives from the Taliban — calling itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — NATO forces, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and UN human rights organisations, the statement said.
The overwhelming majority of civilian deaths and injuries in the war, nearing the end of its ninth year, have been blamed on the Taliban.
The group relies largely on roadside bombs and suicide attackers, which kill and maim indiscriminately.
–Agencies