NATO-caused Afghan casualties down

Civilian casualties caused by NATO airstrikes in Afghanistan were reduced by 53 percent for the first nine months of 2012 from last year, NATO officials said. Roger Noble, NATO deputy commander for operations in Afghanistan, said Thursday at least 426 Afghan civilians were killed because of NATO airstrikes during the first nine months of 2011 but only 202 civilians were killed this year, Khaama Press reported. Militants were responsible for more than 2,400 casualties, he said. Noble said Taliban militants and other insurgent groups are responsible for 81 percent of the Afghan civilian casualties, while coalition forces were responsible for 7 percent, a reduction of 53 percent when compared to last year.