NATO deaths in Afghanistan pass 100 for 2012

The icasualties total for 2012 stood at 98 but the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul has over the past two days announced four deaths, taking the total to over 100 Down News reported.

The latest battle-related fatalities included a service member killed by an improvised explosive device in the south, one by a similar blast in the east and one by an insurgent attack, again in the east.

The nationalities of the dead were not identified, in line with ISAF policy.

ISAF’s international joint command declined to confirm the total figure.

“The longstanding policy of ISAF is not to confirm any consolidated number of casualties over a given timeframe,” said a spokesman.

Taliban has been fighting an insurgency against President Hamid Karzai’s government and its Western allies since it was ousted from power in a US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The war has cost the West hundreds of billions of dollars and almost 3,000 lives so far. The United States has suffered the most deaths at 1,924, according to icasualties, with Britain next on 407.

The 2012 fatality rate is slightly slower than last year, when 109 troops had been killed by the end of March, again according to icasualties.org.

ISAF currently has around 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, but responsibility for security across the country is due to be handed over to Afghan authorities and most foreign troops withdrawn by the end of 2014.