Afghanistan war: UN says more civilians killed by allies than insurgents

Pro-government forces, including Nato allies, killed more civilians in Afghanistan in the first half of 2019 than insurgents did, UN figures show.

It is the first time in the 18-year conflict that this has occurred and comes amid a ferocious US air campaign against the Taliban.

Some 717 civilians were killed by Afghan and Nato-led forces, compared to 531 by militants, the UN said.

The data comes as Washington continues to seek a swift end to the war.

Air strikes, mostly carried out by American warplanes, killed 363 people, including 89 children, in the first six months of the year, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama).

Washington is holding negotiations with the Taliban to try to strike a deal for a troop withdrawal while simultaneously carrying out an intense air campaign against them.

The militants refuse to hold formal negotiations with the Afghan government until there is an agreed timetable for the US withdrawal.