U.N. and NATO forces are said to be carefully studying a Taliban proposal to establish a joint commission that will investigate civilian killings in the Afghanistan. The Taliban’s proposal, which was posted on its website, calls for the creation of a special body comprised of representatives from the Taliban, NATO and Organization of the Islamic Conference as well as U.N. human rights investigators who would survey conflict areas and gather information on alleged attacks on Afghan civilians. The Guardian says Western diplomats have indicated that the proposal is being cautiously reviewed and considered, with some International Security Assistance Forces keen on idea. However, no definite action can be taken until the proposal has been considered “at the highest political level,” the diplomats added.
The Taliban proposal came a few days after the U.N. released a report indicating that the number of civilian casualties in the Afghan war rose by 31 percent in 2010. The report noted that insurgents were responsible for about 76 percent of overall civilian deaths this year.
Still on security, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered all private security firms in Afghanistan to disband within four months and pass their mandates to local police forces, USA Today says.
