RASC News Agency: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has identified Afghanistan as one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world, plagued by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, the organization announced the launch of awareness and support initiatives aimed at educating the public on the grave dangers posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines. Previously, the HALO Trust, an international demining organization, reported that the extent of improvised explosive device (IED) contamination in Afghanistan has surpassed 65 square kilometers. The organization further noted that by the end of 2022, the affected area measured approximately 53 square kilometers, with landmine contamination recorded in 26 provinces across the country.
Four decades of relentless conflict, foreign interventions, and the presence of extremist and terrorist factions have transformed Afghanistan into one of the most mine-infested nations in modern history. Over three decades of Taliban insurgency, vast regions of Afghanistan were strategically mined by the group. During their 20-year insurgency against the former Afghanistan Republic, the Taliban systematically planted landmines across roads, bridges, fields, and mountainous terrains, leaving behind an enduring and deadly legacy. Following their takeover of Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban have openly celebrated their extensive use of landmines, attributing their military success to these insidious tactics.
It is crucial to note that Afghanistan’s landmine crisis dates back to the communist era, when the ruling government heavily mined rural and remote regions a legacy that, decades later, continues to claim innocent lives.
