INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
President Ghani, who took office in 2014, revealed the figure at the World
Economic Forum
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says more than 45,000 members of the country's security forces have been
killed since he became leader in 2014.The figure is far higher than previously thought, with Mr Ghani saying late last year that 28,000 had
been killed since 2015."The number of international casualties is less than 72," he said on Friday
"It shows who is doing the fighting."His comments come amid top-level talks between US and Taliban representatives
The Taliban, the main insurgent group in Afghanistan, said on Thursday that they had held four days of face-to-face talks with US officials
seeking to end 17 years of war.It is not clear if the talks have continued into Friday, but earlier reports said negotiators were
progressing towards a deal."Since I've become president over 45,000 Afghan security personnel have paid the ultimate sacrifice," Mr Ghani
said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland."We need to get a stable Afghanistan that can ensure the security of Americans,
Europeans, and others on the one hand, but more fundamentally our own democratic rights and institutions," he added.Mr Ghani's decision to
reveal new death toll figures is unusual.The Taliban frequently carry out deadly attacks targeting military bases, soldiers and police and
in recent years US and Afghan officials have withheld detailed casualty figures as they are deemed too sensitive.Analysis by Anbarasan
Ethirajan, TheIndianSubcontinent South Asia Regional EditorImage copyrightGetty ImagesIt's a staggering casualty figure - nearly 30 deaths
A record number of Afghan police and troops have been killed since most international combat troops withdrew from the country by the end of
The admission from Mr Ghani came during a bad week for the forces
A few days ago, a devastating attack on an intelligence training centre killed more than forty troops
The daring assault took place around 50 km (30 miles) from the capital, Kabul
Afghan officials may justify the high casualty rate, saying they are now doing most of the fighting - not the international forces
But many analysts have described the current death rate as unsustainable and utterly demoralising for the Afghan military
Military observers say that Afghan soldiers are spread too thin on the ground and the Taliban exploit this by attacking isolated posts,
check points and bases with ferocity
The Taliban feel that the momentum is on their side, and that's why they are talking to the US, but refusing to engage with the Kabul
government.The Taliban's power and reach have surged since foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014.The US/Nato-backed military is
struggling to cope, and attacks are becoming more frequent and much deadlier.Large parts of provinces like Helmand and Kandahar - where
hundreds of US, UK and other foreign troops were killed - are now under Taliban control
Meanwhile, civilian casualties are at an unprecedented level
According to the UN, more than 10,000 civilians were killed or injured in 2017.
