KABUL, Afghanistan – A total of 12 Afghan civilians were killed in two separate incidents in eastern Afghanistan Thursday involving insurgent-planted improvised explosive devices.
In the first incident, three local Afghan construction workers were killed and two were wounded when an IED detonated in the Qarabaugh District of Ghazni province. Later, nine construction workers were killed by a remote-controlled IED while working in the Bar Kunar District of Konar province.
“The Taliban continue to show blatant disregard for innocent civilian life, despite guidance issued by Mullah Omar to avoid civilian casualties,” said Maj. Patrick Seiber, Regional Command East spokesman. “It appears that Mullah Omar has lost command and control of the Taliban and they are operating independently of his authority.”