What is the ICRC doing with regard to the conduct of hostilities?
Over the last three years, we initiated or resumed substantive discussions with the foreign countries that have armed forces in Afghanistan, with NATO, with the Afghan security forces and with the armed opposition. The aim is to get all of them to accept the ICRC’s mission, to give us access to those suffering the consequences of the conflict and to discuss ways of modifying the conduct of hostilities, which would reduce the impact of the war on non-combatants. What we’re now hearing from the leadership of all parties with unprecedented clarity is that they do intend to try and protect civilians from the effects of the conflict. This intent is reflected in, for instance, NATO’s tactical directives and recent statements by the Taliban leadership. However, fighting continues to kill civilians. Translating intent into better protection is still a major challenge. That will remain so as long as the conflict continues to intensify. You say there is now an intent to reduce the effects on civ
