Who planted the landmines in Afghanistan? most were laid by Soviet and pro-Soviet Afghan government forces from 1979-1992. At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in Afghanistan of Belgian, Chinese, ex- Czechoslovakian,
Who planted the landmines in Afghanistan?
most were laid by Soviet and pro-Soviet Afghan government forces from 1979-1992. At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in Afghanistan of Belgian, Chinese, ex- Czechoslovakian, Iranian, Italian, Pakistani, Singaporean, ex-USSR, United Kingdom, ex- Yugoslavian, and Zimbabwean manufacture.
Why are there a lot of landmines in Afghanistan?
Minefields have been laid by both Soviet and Afghan forces, and mines have been used in all phases of the Afghan conflict: in vast quantities during the Soviet occupation, during the power struggle between mujaheddin commanders after the Soviet withdrawal, and now during fighting between Taliban forces and other Afghan …
Why are there minefields in Afghanistan?
More than 40 years of war have left the Afghan landscape littered with landmines as well as other munitions. These landmines have rendered fields, valleys, cities, watercourses, mountains and other terrain unusable, leading to the under-development of the country.
Can a landmine be disarmed?
Detection and removal of landmines is a dangerous activity, and personal protective equipment does not protect against all types of landmine. Once found, mines are generally defused or blown up with more explosives, but it is possible to destroy them with certain chemicals or extreme heat without making them explode.
Where are most landmines found in Afghanistan?
The Victims of Mines in Afghanistan Mines kill and injure Afghans throughout the country. Scattered or buried beside roads, on mountainsides, in pasture land, on the banks of rivers and irrigation systems, inside houses, and elsewhere, mines still claim victims daily.
Are there still land mines from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
Among the legacies of the Soviet invasion, and the factional conflicts that followed the defeat of Soviet forces, are the hundreds of thousands of land mines that still litter many parts of the countryside. Prague, 13 February 2004 (RFE/RL) — Guy Willoughby has vivid memories of visiting Afghanistan 15 years ago at the time of the Soviet pullout.
How many people have been killed by mines in Afghanistan?
Mines contaminate 33 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. At least 30,000 Afghans civilians have been injured or killed by mines or other explosives since 1989, when mine clearing began after the Soviet Union left.
Who is the chairman of the Afghanistan campaign to ban land mines?
Mohammed Shahab Hakimi, the chairman of the Afghan Campaign to Ban Land Mines, says the plan calls for increasing the number of deminers in the country to almost 9,000. He described the effort by telephone recently from Geneva, where he was attending a land mine symposium.