A Weekly Report From Afghanistan That Takes a Toll

I understand the Afghan Government has some Taliban soldiers locked up as prisoner of war, etc. Maybe what the Afghan government should do is to execute those prisoners in reprisal for the Taliban killing it's policemen, soldiers and civilians.

One can only hope that the feckless, pseudo-"war president", Bush the Lesser, safely ensconced in his no-cattle TX ranch is haunted by these deaths in the wee hours of the night.

I have a simple question. Why aren't Taliban casualties being reported? I regularly read reports on Afghan security forces and civilians and sometimes who is at fault and the terrible loss of life. I realize this is difficult to do, but feel that I am missing part of the picture.

These voices point to something quite horrifying about Afghanistan. Killing, warring, strife are the key generators of GDP, albeit produced and consumed locally. I.e., it cannot end, or else the economy will collapse. In other words, the chief industry in Afghanistan is killing related. It includes a vast infrastructure talented killers, and manufacture, trade, logistics of guns, ammo, bombs, IEDs. Maybe medicine does not get through, but guns and stuff magically, without friction, go from Europe, China, US, to Pakistan and then into the hands of people without any problems at all. They are transported in spanking new Toyota vehicles. Then there is of course, the cottage industry of guns in Pakistan-Afghan region. In magnitude, it is likely matched only by opium production, distribution. Perhaps they feed off each other. This is not a world gone mad, it is just a different world that emerges when we swallow religious dogma and tribalism whole. I suspect we are doing that right here right now, albeit to a lesser extent. So it is not an issue of whether we will get there, but just when. It is chilling to learn. I can see how these brave people are doing the world a service by plainly tracking death - it will offer the most robust estimates of the local economy. I have rarely read something in recent years that is this distressing.

Thank you Fahim and Fatima. Stay safe. One question for you: Do you think Pakistan or its agency ISI is in any way responsible in instigating or supporting the current Taliban regime and the recent violence?

Thank you Fatima and Fahim for your dedication on the truth of what is happening in Afghanistan. It is so sad here that our news do not find this important enough to bring the public's attention to these facts. My prayers for you both and all who provide you with information. Our son, Nicholas Hensley was with the USA Army for several years with tours to Iraq twice and one tour to Afghanistan where he lost his life due to an IED. He is dearly missed everyday as I am sure all the deaths you report are dearly missed by their loved ones. Please stay safe and keep the info coming. I plan to check The New York Times daily so I don't miss any of your articles. Thank you

Thank you Fatima and Fahim for continuing your weekly reporting and for sharing a brief insight into your experience (doing it), here. Stay safe.

Thank you for your extraordinary efforts in documenting the continuing tragedy of Afghanistan. That the defense minister had never seen a casualty report tells me there is something drastically wrong with their government, aside from the continuous reporting of outposts waiting for reinforcements, that come late or not at all. Stay safe. Your singular reporting is testament to how valuable independent reporting truly is.

First, let me say: I admire your professionalism and diligence in performing these incredibly fraught tasks. I appreciate that you are helping keep us informed. Also, I want to get my admiration registered here in the Comments, now, as soon as I could, before any of the usual disparaging and dismissive things start to appear whenever there are opportunities to submit Comments on articles about Afghanistan. I realize people need a place to vent their anger, frustration, disappointment, and every other negative response about the ongoing war in Afghanistan, but I don't want that to be the initial thing you see about your heartfelt descriptions of what these duties are like for you. I respect how difficult this must be. I hope you are getting the kinds of support you need to handle these repeated exposures to this. (I've been working in Afghanistan for 11 years and I know that adjusting and adapting to the carnage are not necessarily healthy, even if being resilient allows us to be successful at our work in these nearly impossible conditions.) All the best to you and your colleagues.

First, let me say: I admire your professionalism and diligence in performing these incredibly fraught tasks. I appreciate that you are helping keep us informed. Also, I want to get my admiration registered here in the Comments, now, as soon as I could, before any of the usual disparaging and dismissive things start to appear whenever there are opportunities to submit Comments on articles about Afghanistan. I realize people need a place to vent their anger, frustration, disappointment, and every other negative response about the ongoing war in Afghanistan, but I don't want that to be the initial thing you see about your heartfelt descriptions of what these duties are like for you. I respect how difficult this must be. I hope you are getting the kinds of support you need to handle these repeated exposures to this. (I've been working in Afghanistan for 11 years and I know that adjusting and adapting to the carnage are not necessarily healthy, even if being resilient allows us to be successful at our work in these nearly impossible conditions.) All the best to you and your colleagues.