2007: Violence in Afghanistan kills 6,300

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-24-2007 13:37

More than 6,300 people have been killed in Afghanistan's insurgency-related violence this year. And the violence has also claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.

Afghan officials remove the charred remains of a suicide bomber in Kabul.  (AFP/Massoud Hossaini)

The conflict has hampered development projects in large parts of the south and east where the largely ethnic Pashtun Taliban draw most of their support.

In these areas, the insurgents are most active and clash regularly with foreign troops under NATO and US military command.

More than 330 foreign soldiers have been killed in the last two years, the bloodiest period since US-led troops overthrew the Taliban government in 2001.

There are currently over 50-thousand foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. Half of them are US soldiers and other NATO nations contribute the rest.

Under public pressure, Canada and the Netherlands, who have troops in the south, have hinted they may not extend their stay beyond 2008.

The US has been pushing alliance members to take more responsibility in the war against the al Qaeda-backed Taliban.

The Kabul Times says the fact that some NATO member nations may not be interested in keeping their forces in Afghanistan beyond 2008 is worrisome.

It says the increase in the number of suicide bombings in both Afghanistan and Pakistan show the Taliban are gaining more strength And the withdrawal of some NATO forces may weaken morale all around.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei