US-led military's curbs on civilian attacks led to 'reduced' Afghan Taliban retaliation

London (ANI) - Restrictions imposed on US-led forces in Afghanistan to reduce civilian casualties have also led to a decline in insurgent attacks, according to a report by America's National Bureau for Economic Research.

BBC quoted the report as saying that civilian deaths frequently motivate villagers to join the insurgent groups.

The report also stated that in areas where two civilians were killed or injured by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), there were on average extra six violent incidents between insurgents and US-led troops in the following six weeks.

"In Afghanistan, when Isaf units kill civilians, this increases the number of willing combatants, leading to an increase in insurgent attacks. Local exposure to violence from Isaf appears to be the primary driver of this effect," the report stated.

America's National Bureau for Economic Research analysed 15 months of data on military clashes and incidents that resulted in more than 4,000 civilian deaths in a number of Afghan regions by April 1, 2010.

The curbs on aerial bombing and mortar fire were introduced in 2009 by the recently-sacked Gen Stanley McChrystal in an effort to win more Afghan hearts and minds.

However, the move has been opposed by some soldiers who say that it made their jobs more dangerous.