Photo: U.S. Army soldiers rest during a mission to check security efforts at Salang tunnel in the Hindu Kush mountain range in the Parwan province of Afghanistan on Jan. 30, 2009. The soldiers are with Alpha Company, Division Special Troop Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. DoD photo by Spc. Scott Davis, U.S. Army. (Released)From The Guardian:
Violence soared by nearly a third last year, the highest rise since coalition operations began.
Violence in Afghanistan soared by nearly a third last year, the highest rise since coalition operations in the troubled country began more than seven years ago.
According to new Nato statistics obtained by the Observer, violence rose by 31%, taking levels of fighting to a new peak of intensity. In 2007 there were around 5,000 "violent incidents" in the 20 worst-affected districts of the country. Last year the total rose to around 7,000.
Nato officials said the sharp rise was "in large part" due to more international troops pushing into areas that were previously without any military presence – such as the major deployment of US marines to the southern province of Helmand where UK forces are based – provoking more combat.
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My Comment: With the surge starting in Afghanistan right now, expect an even greater increase in violence and casualties starting in spring time.