The number of Afghan civilians killed in US and Nato air strikes dropped by nearly half last year to 126, the UN said today.
Its report came a day after Afghan president Hamid Karzai banned government forces from requesting foreign air support during operations in residential areas.
The total number of civilians killed last year also fell by 12 per cent from 3,131 in 2011 to 2,754, according to the annual report by the United Nations Mission to Afghanistan.
The UN attributed the fall largely to declines in the number of suicide attacks and air strikes, although the latter still claimed the lives of 51 children.
While it was the first reduction in casualties in six years, the UN expressed concern about a rise in
targeted killings and human rights abuses by armed groups, a frightening trend as foreign powers prepare to withdraw their combat troops by the end of next year. It also said the number of Afghan women and girls killed and injured increased by 20 per cent last year.
The Taliban and other insurgents killed 2,179 civilians and wounded 3,952 last year, a nine per cent increase on 2011.
By contrast, the number of casualties blamed on US and allied forces decreased by 46 per cent, with 316 killed and 271 wounded.
Other deaths could not be attributed to either party.
