The European Union Ambassador to Afghanistan, Andreas von Brand, expressed concerns over the “reports of killings of civilians and mistreatment in Panjshir.”
However, the local officials in Panjshir denied the reports of civilian casualties.
“Concerned by reports of killings of civilians and mistreatment in Panjshir. We mourn the innocent loss of life,” Ambassador von Brand said. “Once more, the situation underlines the need for overdue inclusive solutions in governing Afghanistan.”
The remarks by the EU’s ambassador come as earlier reports were published alleging that civilians suffered casualties in the provinces of Panjshir, Baghlan and Takhar.
This comes as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, said in a tweet that “these acts are war crimes and flagrant violations of international humanitarian and international human rights laws and that these acts must stop.”
“We call on the Afghan warring parties to observe the laws of war and peace, so the Afghan people don’t become victims anymore,” said Farah Mustafavi, a human rights activist.
But the Islamic Emirate denied the allegations of civilian casualties.
“We don’t allow anyone to cause insecurity in the country. We seriously deny the allegations about the civilian casualties,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
“Panjshir is completely secure. There has been no clash in Panjshir. The propaganda of torturing civilians is absolutely untrue. No one has been tortured here,” said Abubakar Sediqqi, the provincial governor’s spokesman.
The videos that are being circulated on social media shows clashes in Panjshir but the Islamic Emirate said the situation in Panjshir is normal.
According to the Islamic Emirate, there are some clearing operations that have been launched in the provinces of Panjshir and Baghlan.
This comes as the Resistance Front claimed it had overrun some areas in Panjshir, Baghan and Takhar provinces and that its forces inflicted casualties on the Islamic Emirate, but the Islamic Emirate denied it.—Tolonews
