80% of Afghanistan free of violence: Nato general
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KABUL (AFP) - A senior Nato commander says that 80 per cent of Afghanistan is free of violence but warned an insurgency still rages in the south and east, fuelled by fighters coming from neighbouring Pakistan.
"About 80 per cent of Afghan territory and the Afghan population is not affected by security problems or violence," Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove told AFP in an interview.
"On the other hand, there is a huge contrast when it comes to security between the different regions and districts," said Gen Bavinchove, Chief of Staff of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
His claims contrast sharply with United Nations numbers showing that August was the second deadliest month in five years for Afghan civilians, with a total of 374 - more than 10 a day - killed and 581 injured.
