(Cameroon) The United Nations has received “credible allegations” that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took control of the country on August 15, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Posted at 10:10 p.m.
In a report obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday, Guterres said “more than two-thirds” of the victims are believed to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or their affiliates, despite the Taliban’s announcement of “blanket amnesties.” for people connected to the former government and US-led coalition forces.
The UN Political Mission in Afghanistan has also received “credible allegations of extrajudicial executions of at least 50 people suspected of being affiliated with ISIL-KP”, an Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan. , said António Guterres in the report to the UN Security Council.
He added that despite assurances from the Taliban, the UN political mission has also received credible allegations of “enforced disappearances and other violations affecting the right to life and physical integrity” from former government and coalition members.
António Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue “to be attacked, intimidated, harassed, arbitrarily arrested, mistreated and killed”.
Eight civil society activists were killed, three by the Taliban and three by Islamic State extremists, and 10 suffered temporary arrests, beatings and threats from the Taliban, said Mr. Guterres. Two journalists were killed – one by IS – and two were injured by unknown gunmen.
The Secretary-General added that UN missions had documented 44 cases of temporary arrests, physical violence and threats of intimidation, including 42 perpetrated by the Taliban.
The Taliban invaded most of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.
The Taliban initially promised a blanket amnesty for those linked to the former government and international forces, as well as tolerance and inclusion for women and ethnic minorities. However, they renewed restrictions on women and appointed an all-male government, which sparked international dismay.
Afghanistan’s economy, dependent on international aid, was already stumbling when the Taliban took power, and the international community froze Afghanistan’s assets abroad and cut off its economic support, recalling the reputation of brutality of the Taliban during their rule from 1996-2001 and their refusal to educate girls as well as allow women to work.
According to António Guterres, “The situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and uncertain six months after the Taliban took power as multiple political, socio-economic and humanitarian shocks reverberate across the country. »
He said Afghanistan is facing multiple crises: a growing humanitarian emergency, a massive economic contraction, the crippling of its banking and financial systems, the worst drought in 27 years and the inability of the Taliban to form an inclusive government. and restore the right of girls to education and women to work.
“An estimated 22.8 million people will be food insecure and in emergency until March 2022,” said the UN Secretary-General. Nearly 9 million of them will be at “emergency” levels of food insecurity – the highest number in the world. Half of children under five face acute malnutrition. »
On a positive note, António Guterres reported “a significant drop” in the total number of conflict-related security incidents as well as civilian casualties since the Taliban took power. The UN recorded 985 security-related incidents between Aug. 19 and Dec. 31, a 91 percent decrease from the same period in 2020, he said.
The eastern, central, southern and western regions accounted for 75 percent of all recorded incidents, the UN Secretary-General added. Nangarhar, Kabul, Kunar and Kandahar being the provinces most affected by the conflict
Despite the reduction in violence, António Guterres said the Taliban face several challenges, including increasing attacks on their members.
“Some are attributed to the National Resistance Front, made up of Afghan opposition figures, and those associated with the former government,” he said. These groups operate mainly in the province of Panjshir and in the district of Andarab in Baghlan, but have not made significant territorial inroads”, although “armed clashes are regularly documented, as well as forced displacements and power outages. communications”.
António Guterres said intra-Taliban tensions along ethnic lines and competition for jobs have also led to violence, pointing to armed clashes on November 4 between Taliban forces in the city of Bamyan.
In the report, the Secretary-General proposed priorities for the UN’s political mission in the current environment, called for international support to prevent widespread hunger and economic collapse in the country, and urged the Taliban to guarantee women’s rights and human rights.