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Afghan government abandons Taliban's uniformed victims and their families Afghan government abandons Taliban's uniformed victims and their families
(17 days later)
When Khodadad and Mohammad Yasim, police officers and cousins, were shot by the Taliban, there was no knock on the front door, no colleagues in uniform to break the news, not even a phone call from the government they died protecting.When Khodadad and Mohammad Yasim, police officers and cousins, were shot by the Taliban, there was no knock on the front door, no colleagues in uniform to break the news, not even a phone call from the government they died protecting.
Instead, as days without contact lengthened into a week, their families grew concerned, then uneasy, then terrified about why the pair's mobile phones were switched off. When news filtered out that policemen had been shot in the area where they served, a family group set off for insurgent territory.Instead, as days without contact lengthened into a week, their families grew concerned, then uneasy, then terrified about why the pair's mobile phones were switched off. When news filtered out that policemen had been shot in the area where they served, a family group set off for insurgent territory.
"We went in a small group so the Taliban wouldn't notice or arrest us. We were very worried, but as our family members were missing, we had to go," said Habibullah, a younger cousin of the two men who joined the group heading for Ghazni province, south of the capital."We went in a small group so the Taliban wouldn't notice or arrest us. We were very worried, but as our family members were missing, we had to go," said Habibullah, a younger cousin of the two men who joined the group heading for Ghazni province, south of the capital.
As Nato forces withdraw, and Afghan forces take the brunt of the Taliban's assault, casualty rates have soared. Often this summer the weekly toll of police and soldiers has been more than 100 dead, and sometimes it has risen above 150, figures that are alarming both foreign commanders and the military top brass in Kabul, who are focused on morale and recruitment.As Nato forces withdraw, and Afghan forces take the brunt of the Taliban's assault, casualty rates have soared. Often this summer the weekly toll of police and soldiers has been more than 100 dead, and sometimes it has risen above 150, figures that are alarming both foreign commanders and the military top brass in Kabul, who are focused on morale and recruitment.
But for those families who lose sons, brothers or husbands in the fighting, the soaring death rate has had a more immediate, painful and expensive impact. Bodies that once travelled back on Nato planes now come occasionally by a rare Afghan air force flight, more often on a slow road journey, and sometimes not at all, forcing families to add a dangerous and bitter search for a loved one's remains to the burden of their grief.But for those families who lose sons, brothers or husbands in the fighting, the soaring death rate has had a more immediate, painful and expensive impact. Bodies that once travelled back on Nato planes now come occasionally by a rare Afghan air force flight, more often on a slow road journey, and sometimes not at all, forcing families to add a dangerous and bitter search for a loved one's remains to the burden of their grief.
"Not just me, all of the police have the feeling that if something happens, the government will not do anything," said one police officer who knew the dead cousins. He asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to journalists. "We only do this job as there are no other options.""Not just me, all of the police have the feeling that if something happens, the government will not do anything," said one police officer who knew the dead cousins. He asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to journalists. "We only do this job as there are no other options."
Perhaps the most high-profile case so far, taken up by an opposition politician, was that of Yoldash, a police cook. After he was killed by insurgents when he went to fetch water from a stream, his comrades left the body there so long that when his family found him, only a blanched skeleton remained.Perhaps the most high-profile case so far, taken up by an opposition politician, was that of Yoldash, a police cook. After he was killed by insurgents when he went to fetch water from a stream, his comrades left the body there so long that when his family found him, only a blanched skeleton remained.
That was not a unique incident, some government officials and senior soldiers admit. Top Afghan officials for the first time this year spent much of the Eid al-Fitr holiday visiting the injured, and families of the dead and serving soldiers, as they try to build national support for the security forces and boost morale in the face of the rising death toll.That was not a unique incident, some government officials and senior soldiers admit. Top Afghan officials for the first time this year spent much of the Eid al-Fitr holiday visiting the injured, and families of the dead and serving soldiers, as they try to build national support for the security forces and boost morale in the face of the rising death toll.
Detailing the Eid visit, General Joseph Dunford, the American commander of the International Security Assistance Force, told the Guardian in an interview this week: "I believe the Afghans … are now as gripped with casualties as we are, and they also recognise that they need to recognise the families of the fallen as well."Detailing the Eid visit, General Joseph Dunford, the American commander of the International Security Assistance Force, told the Guardian in an interview this week: "I believe the Afghans … are now as gripped with casualties as we are, and they also recognise that they need to recognise the families of the fallen as well."
Still, for Habibullah's family, those efforts meant nothing. The first hint they had of the bad news about Khodadad and Mohammad was simply silence. "They were always in touch with us, and suddenly their phones were off for a week, then we heard eight police were dead in their area … the government didn't tell us anything."Still, for Habibullah's family, those efforts meant nothing. The first hint they had of the bad news about Khodadad and Mohammad was simply silence. "They were always in touch with us, and suddenly their phones were off for a week, then we heard eight police were dead in their area … the government didn't tell us anything."
The cousins had served in the police for three years, mostly in Ghazni city, which is still relatively safe. But months before their death, an uncle took a job as district prosecutor in Jaghuri, and they agreed to be his bodyguards, considered reliable because of their blood ties.The cousins had served in the police for three years, mostly in Ghazni city, which is still relatively safe. But months before their death, an uncle took a job as district prosecutor in Jaghuri, and they agreed to be his bodyguards, considered reliable because of their blood ties.
It is not clear exactly what happened to the group, who appear to have been ambushed while travelling. Roads through Ghazni province are now often dominated by insurgents and criminals. One member of parliament was kidnapped there earlier this month, and days later another barely survived an ambush that killed her young daughter.It is not clear exactly what happened to the group, who appear to have been ambushed while travelling. Roads through Ghazni province are now often dominated by insurgents and criminals. One member of parliament was kidnapped there earlier this month, and days later another barely survived an ambush that killed her young daughter.
When the searchers found the men's remains, it was in an unstable area where scared villagers avoided the outsiders. "The local people were afraid, they wouldn't come near us or help us. When we arrived, two people told us there were some bodies in an old house, we could check if they were ours, but nothing else."When the searchers found the men's remains, it was in an unstable area where scared villagers avoided the outsiders. "The local people were afraid, they wouldn't come near us or help us. When we arrived, two people told us there were some bodies in an old house, we could check if they were ours, but nothing else."
Death at least appeared to have been merciful in a country where beheading is still used as a form of execution. The bodies had just a few bullet wounds each, and the group carried them down to restive Helmand province, not normally a place of safety, but no one knew them or their jobs there.Death at least appeared to have been merciful in a country where beheading is still used as a form of execution. The bodies had just a few bullet wounds each, and the group carried them down to restive Helmand province, not normally a place of safety, but no one knew them or their jobs there.
"When they were burying someone killed by the Taliban in Ghazni [a few weeks earlier], they attacked again, so we were frightened they would target the burial there," said Habibullah, who spent at least a month after his return from the gruesome mission crying then laughing uncontrollably, and haunted by the bodies in recurring nightmares."When they were burying someone killed by the Taliban in Ghazni [a few weeks earlier], they attacked again, so we were frightened they would target the burial there," said Habibullah, who spent at least a month after his return from the gruesome mission crying then laughing uncontrollably, and haunted by the bodies in recurring nightmares.
The search and funerals cost the family about $4,000 (£2,500), and the government has provided no funds or other support for their widows and children. But the view from the frontlines of Afghanistan's war is apparently so grim that they did not expect it.The search and funerals cost the family about $4,000 (£2,500), and the government has provided no funds or other support for their widows and children. But the view from the frontlines of Afghanistan's war is apparently so grim that they did not expect it.
"Of course they don't pay anything for a dead soldier," Habibullah said. "Every day around the country over 100 people die [in the Afghan army and police]. If the government pays for all their bodies, there will be no money left.""Of course they don't pay anything for a dead soldier," Habibullah said. "Every day around the country over 100 people die [in the Afghan army and police]. If the government pays for all their bodies, there will be no money left."
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