For the first time since the Islamic Emirate regained power in Afghanistan in mid-August of last year, the UN reported on civilian causalities in the country from various causes. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Monday in Geneva said from August 15, 2021, to February 15, 2022, UNAMA and the Office High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) have documented at least “1,153 civilian casualties, including 397 deaths in Afghanistan.”
“While the decline in hostilities has seen a sharp decrease in civilian casualties, the human rights situation for many Afghans is of profound concern,” Bachelet said. “Several suicide and non-suicide attacks were perpetrated by ISKP against Shi’a Muslims, mostly from the Hazara ethnic group.” Bachelet said more than “50 extra-judicial killings “of individuals suspected to be linked to Daesh, including cases of beheadings in the eastern Nangarhar province with bodies left in public places, have also been recorded.
The Islamic Emirate has yet to comment on OHCHR’s report about civilian casualties in the country. Abdul Ghafar Kamyab, a figure close to the Islamic Emirate, said casualties have declined drastically in the country since the political change.
“The presence of insurgent groups in Afghanistan has not been confirmed by the Islamic Emirate. There is no information about any insurgency in any district or province of Afghanistan. Any organization that does research and writes reports should offer documentation for their findings and share it with the government,” he said.
“We urge the Islamic Emirate and the international community to reach an engagement agreement as soon as possible so our people can live in peace,” Ahmad Khan Andar, a political analyst said. Bachelet also raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and said more than half of the population suffers from extreme levels of hunger. “An increase in child labor, child marriage and the sale of children has been observed,” she said.
Bachelet called on the Islamic Emirate to recognize and respect Afghanistan’s obligations to protect human rights, stressing that this will be fundamental for long-term support from the international community. She also raised concerns about the shrinking of civic space and arbitrary arrests in the country.—Tolo News
