NEW : The Taliban criticize the U.N. report , saying it 's `` in favor of Americans '' The increase in deaths and injuries in the first half of this year reverses a drop in 2012 . Last year 's decline was the first recorded since the U.N. started publishing the data . The remainder were caused by pro-government forces ( 9 % ) , ground engagements between pro- and anti-government forces ( 12 % ) and unattributed factors like unexploded ordnance ( 5 % ) . In Afghanistan, where U.S. forces are fighting an increasingly unpopular war against al - Qaeda militants who have taken over large parts of the country, there is growing concern that the United Nations has not done
NEW : The Taliban criticize the U.N. report , saying it 's `` in favor of Americans '' The increase in deaths and injuries in the first half of this year reverses a drop in 2012 . Last year 's decline was the first recorded since the U.N. started publishing the data . In Afghanistan, where U.S. forces are fighting an increasingly unpopular war against al - Qaeda militants who have taken over large parts of the country, there is growing concern that the United Nations has not done