Human shields in Afghanistan

Human shields in Afghanistan

According to Nato commanders, the Taliban are now using human shields in the ongoing battles around the town of Marja.

I do not doubt the details of the incidents that have been reported. The military on the ground report being fired upon from nearby buildings, and then before they can respond, women and children start to appear in the same area.

These details have also been witnessed by journalists embedded with some of the military units in the area.

The Associated Press quoted Brigadier General Mohiudin Ghori, the brigade commander of Afghan troops in Marjah, as saying: "They are trying to get us to fire on them and kill the civilians."

There is no doubt that the Taliban are fully aware of the Nato rules of engagement. When General Stanley McChrystal published his tactical directive in July last year, it was covered by most major news organisations.

It called on commanders, "to scrutinize and limit the use of force like close-air support against residential compounds and other locations likely to produce civilian casualties."

Just before the start of the Marjah offensive, a British commander Brigadier James Cowan told his men to avoid shooting at civilians.

"Defeat the enemy by avoiding civilian casualties. Hold your fire if there is a risk to the innocent, even if this puts you in greater danger. That kind of restraint requires courage - courageous restraint. This you have shown throughout our time in Afghanistan," he said. These comments were widely reported.

The Taliban know very well that civilian casualties over the last eight and half years have damaged support among the ordinary Afghans both for the Karzai government, and for continued international military involvement.

I do, however, think some care needs to be taken before using the term "human shields".

The first time I recall the phrase being used was in 1990. I was reporting at the time from Baghdad, and the "human shields" then were those westerners captured, held (and eventually released) by Saddam Hussein after he invaded Kuwait.

This time, though, we are probably not talking about hostages, held against their will, sometimes handcuffed and blindfolded.

Most, but not all, of those fighting for the Taliban in Helmand are locals.

Afghans here tell me that in many cases the women and children in the homes with a Talib fighter are likely to be his own women and children.

What are viewed as "human shields" in the west may be seen very differently by Afghan eyes. Some perhaps would even talk of brave men taking a last stand to protect their women and children from foreign invaders.