UN Urges Taliban To Reduce Civilian Casualties

The United Nations has urged the Taliban to reduce civilians casualties in Afghanistan, but has seen no change on the ground.

The UN says some 75 percent of deaths and injuries in Afghanistan in 2014 were attributable to the Taliban.

Nicholas Haysom, the top UN envoy in Afghanistan, said the UN has shared its casualty reports with Taliban officials in the Gulf nation of Qatar.

Speaking at a press conference in New York on December 19, Haysom said the Taliban officials claim the UN figures are inaccurate.

Georgette Gagnon, the UN Afghan mission's human rights director, said the world body has seen a change in Taliban "messaging" but no measurable improvement on the ground.


Based on reporting by AP