Who to blame?

When Lajwar returned to her home town in the Sangin district of the southern Helmand province, she found neither her family nor her home. Her house had been destroyed, five family members had been killed, and her livestock was gone. "My daughter-in-law, my three grandchildren and a son were all dead. There was nothing there when I came back," Lajwar, who is now in her late 60s, told DW.

Local residents told the old woman that this has been the result of a NATO airstrike, which is a common occurrence in Sangin. The area has been a Taliban stronghold since the regime of the Islamic extremists was toppled following a US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Still in shock, Lajwar cannot recall the exact date of the incident; she says it took place three years ago.

Different claims

Civilians continue to pay a high price for the ongoing war in Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), some 1560 civilians were killed and some 3280 others injured in violent incidents across Afghanistan in the first six months of 2014. UNAMA attributes 74 percent of these causalities to anti-government insurgents, nine percent to pro-government forces, and 12 percent to ground engagements between armed militants and Afghan forces in which it is impossible to blame a single party.

The United Nations, however, says that NATO forces are responsible for only one percent of the civilian deaths in the first six months of this year. But in its latest report, Amnesty International accused the US military of a lack of accountability for civilian casualties. The report, which was released on Monday, August 11, in Kabul, claimed that the victims of NATO raids were usually left without justice.

Wrong targets

In some cases, wrong information to NATO forces about a possible insurgent target has been the cause of civilian deaths, says Haji Sharabuddin.

On February 12, 2010, Sharabuddin, a resident of the eastern Paktia province, and his family were celebrating the birth of a child. They had invited friends and relatives to their home.

"Someone gave NATO the wrong information and told them that the Taliban were hiding in my house," Sharabuddin told DW.

Soon, NATO forces surrounded his house and made their way to the roof. Around 4 am, Sharabuddin's grandson noticed the presence of some people. He told his father that the Taliban had attacked their home.

Sharabuddin's two sons and the son in-law worked for the local government. The Taliban had warned the Afghans not to be part of the US-backed government or risk serious consequences. Sharabuddin's family members decided to defend themselves against the intruders whom they had mistaken with the Taliban. His son ran to the courtyard to grab his weapon but was shot by NATO forces. When his grandson tried to help him, he also was also shot.

Two male members of his family, two pregnant women, and a teenage girl were killed in the incident, said Amnesty International in its report.

Demanding justice

Lajwar now lives with her daughter in Kabul. She says she is too old and sick to go to various government offices to claim compensation.

"They gave me nothing. I came here to live with my daughter. I have not received any money," she told DW.

Lajwar is lucky to have at least someone to live with. People like Sharabuddin are left with nothing but a burden of responsibilities. The 70-year-old claims his money and jewelry were stolen during the NATO raid. He did receive some money from NATO but he says it is much less than what was taken away from him.

"After the raid, they said that they were sorry and that it was a mistake. They killed five members of my family, took away everything, and they say they are just sorry," Sharabuddin complained.

When asked what he demanded now, Sharabuddin had this to say: "What can I ask for now? My world has been destroyed. They stole my wealth and I am left with 20 to 25 orphans to look after."