NEW : The Taliban rejects the report , saying it is better not to target civilians . It 's the first time in five years there has been a spike in violence against civilians . The report brings the level down only to what it was five years ago . They still take a ` ` devastating toll on civilians , '' the U.N. mission in Afghanistan says .
NEW : The Taliban rejects the report , saying it is trying not to target civilians . It 's the first time in five years there has been a fall in violence against civilians . The drop brings the level down only to what it was two years ago . Attacks still take a `` devastating toll on civilians , '' the U.N. mission in Afghanistan says .