U.N. envoy concerned about rising violence in Afghanistan

Tom Koenigs, the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan, said on Monday that the frequency of violent incidents there has increased by around 30 percent, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported the next day, citing Xinhua news agency.

Koenigs also expressed concern about the significant increase in civilian casualties, citing the deaths of at least 1,200 Afghan civilians since January.

He said that the greatest threat to Afghans is the “ongoing campaign of intimidation, abduction, and execution being carried out by antigovernment elements against all those seen to have a connection with the Afghan government or the international community.”

In reference to this campaign, he called for the development of an “integrated political-military strategy” that would both combat violence and establish sustained peace in the country.

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