Paksitan conflict killed 2,300 civilians in 2009

Islamabad: Militant groups, Pakistani military operations and US drone attacks from Afghanistan claimed an estimated 2,300 civilians in Pakistani tribal areas in 2009.

Washington-based Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (Civic) — in its latest report documenting civilian losses as a result of armed conflict in Pakistan's northwest along the Afghan border — analyses the humanitarian, security and strategic consequences of those losses.

"Both the US and Pakistan government should publicly investigate all incidents of civilian harm and, when appropriate, acknowledge responsibility for causing harm besides halting all extrajudicial killings and investigate potential incidents of extrajudicial killings," saus the study titled Civilian Harm and Conflict in Northwest Pakistan.

Over the past year, the Civic claims to have conducted interviews with Pakistani and US policymakers, humanitarians and officials from international organizations, and over 160 Pakistani civilians suffering direct losses from the conflict.

Assessment

However, there is hardly anyone to assess and keep track of ongoing civilian casualties from militant groups, Pakistani military operations and US drone strikes, which have so far been by far higher than in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The study notes: "Despite the severity of losses and consequences of ignoring them, civilian casualties receive too little attention from US, Pakistani and donor-nation policymakers, military officials, and international organisations alike.

"Overlooking the majority of civilians harmed or displaced by combat operations is undermining the Pakistani government's legitimacy," the authors of this timely research point out at a time when unauthorised US drone attacks are averaging one a day.

The CIVIC reminds the US of its obligation towards these victims, being a major supporter of Pakistan's anti-terror efforts and as a warring party itself, "with small numbers of its troops on the ground and drones conducting strikes from overhead.

"Almost all victims insisted that the Pakistani or US governments, respectively, had a responsibility to make amends — i.e. an acknowledgment of the harm suffered and an offer of assistance or compensation," the report points out.

The CIVIC finds out "no governmental or military mechanism that systematically and publicly investigates or collects data on civilian casualties and deaths, injuries, and property losses are greatly compounded by widespread poverty and displacement."

The report authors claim that civilians interviewed "acknowledge the relative accuracy of US drone strikes but criticise them for causing civilian casualties and question the programme's long-term effectiveness against militants; most opposed the strikes and demanded an end to the practice."

Responsibility

The civilians caught in the armed conflict hold warring parties responsible for their losses and expect amends (compensation) from both the Pakistani and US governments.

The report calls upon the Pakistani government to refrain from using artillery, mortars and airpower in densely populated areas and ensure such weapons are deployed in a manner that appropriately discriminates between civilians and combatants.