Strangers at the Door: Night Raids by International Forces Lose Hearts and Minds of Afghans [pdf], Open Society Institute // The Liaison Office via the Human Security Gateway, 23 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Afghan civilians have increasingly borne the brunt of the war in Afghanistan. Though insurgents have been responsible for most of the harm, the Afghan public has largely directed their frustration and anger at international forces. International forces have made significant efforts to address this anger by improving their conduct, in particular reducing civilian deaths due to airstrikes. One practice, however, that has changed little is the search and seizure operations known as night raids. Research conducted by the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Afghan nongovernmental organization, The Liaison Office (TLO), shows that these raids are widely associated with abuse and impunity. Night raids cause tremendous trauma within Afghan communities, often alienating the very people whom international forces are supposedly trying to protect. During night raids, international and Afghan soldiers force entry into local homes and search the premises after dark, often detaining many, if not all, of the men present. Given the international community's commitment to stabilizing Afghanistan by winning local trust and cooperation, night raids present a serious stumbling block. Afghans' negative perceptions of international military actors will not change as long as abuses associated with night raids continue."
Read the full report [pdf] via the Human Security Gateway.
Related articles:
Afghanistan war: As civilian deaths rise, NATO says, "Sorry.", The Christian Science Monitor, 23 February 2010
Questions linger after air strike on civilian convoy in Afghanistan, The Canadian Press, 23 February 2010
US-led raid kills civilians in Afghanistan, Press TV, 12 February 2010
NATO says insurgents killed; Family says civilians, The Associated Press, 12 February 2010
Karzai demands end to NATO raids, Al Jazeera, 8 February 2010
Related posts:
School children killed in a coalition raid: UN, 4 January 2010
Afghans assess roles for NATO, UN, regional actors, 20 November 2009
Civilians and the international security strategy, 3 April 2009
An Afghan perspective on operations of pro-government forces, 23 December 2008
Tribal leaders to sabotage West's assault on Taliban, 4 December 2008
