Civilian casualties in the Afghan war have risen 23 per cent in the first half of this year as a result of Taliban attacks and increased fighting between insurgents and government forces, the UN says.
The increase reverses a decline in 2012 and raises questions about how Afghan government troops can protect civilians as US-led NATO troops withdraw from the 12-year war against the Taliban.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Wednesday 1319 civilians died and 2533 were injured as a result of the war from January 1 to June 30, up 23 per cent from the same period in 2012.
UNAMA said there was a 14 per cent increase in total civilian deaths and a 28 per cent increase in total civilian injuries.
"The rise in civilian casualties in the first half of 2013 reverses the decline recorded in 2012, and marks a return to the high numbers of civilian deaths and injuries documented in 2011," it said.
The UN said 74 per cent of the casualties were caused by insurgents, nine per cent by pro-government forces and 12 per cent as a result of ground fighting between the two sides.
The remaining four or five per cent of civilian casualties were unattributed, caused mainly by explosive remnants of war, it added.
Insurgent bomb attacks remain the highest cause of civilian casualties, but increased ground fighting between Afghan troops and insurgents was the second leading cause.
"Despite Afghan forces leading almost all military operations countrywide, a permanent structure does not exist in relevant ANSF (Afghan security force) bodies to systematically investigate allegations of civilian casualties, initiate remedial measures and take follow-up action," the report warned.
The UN also recorded a 76 per cent increase in civilian casualties as a result of insurgents targeting civilian government employees, government offices, district headquarters and other offices.
The UN report also recorded a sharp decline of 30 per cent in the number of civilian casualties as a result of NATO air strikes, which in the past have been a source of considerable controversy.
The International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan welcomed the report and blamed the Taliban for nearly 90 per cent of civilian casualties.
It said that "a number of positive steps" it had taken to reduce civilian casualties were having "a real result".
The UN report was released as Afghan President Hamid Karzai held talks with visiting US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins, officials said.
The two men discussed flagging efforts to start peace talks with the Taliban and the prospect of a security deal between Kabul and Washington that would allow some US troops to remain beyond 2014.
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