6 people killed in Afghanistan violent incidents last week

KABUL: (Pajhwok): The United Nations last week expressed concern about the human rights situation and the presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but the Islamic Emirate rejected the claims while India and Russia praised the interim government’s steps taken against ‘terrorism’.

Last week’s major events:

• China, Tajikistan renew call for all-inclusive government in Kabul
• IEA brushes aside UNAMA’s concern about human rights
• UNAMA asked to avoid statements that hurt Muslims’ feelings
• UN: Al-Qaeda active in Afghanistan; This is propaganda, says Mujahid.
• Modi, Putin meet, praise Afghanistan’s ‘anti-terror’ measures
• Grandi: Pakistan halts forced eviction of Afghan refugees
• Stop mistreating Afghan refugees, Kabir urges neighbors

Casualties

Last week, six people were killed and one person was injured in separate incidents of violence across Afghanistan.

Unknown assailants shot dead three members of a family in Kandahar, a 19-year-old girl was beheaded in Faryab, and a young man was killed during an armed clash between two families in Nangarhar province.

A blast caused by an old mortar shell in southern Ghazni province killed one child and injured another.

Note: These figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok Afghan News. Some incidents might have gone unreported or sources have provided incorrect figures,

Nearly a dozen people had been killed and a dozen more injured in various incidents of violence in the country in the previous week.

Before the regime change in August 2021, hundreds of people, including civilians, security forces and insurgents, would get killed and injured every week.

Inclusive government in Afghanistan

Last week, China and Tajikistan in a joint statement said “a free, united, inclusive, peaceful and terrorism- and-drug-free Afghanistan is the interest of Afghans and the region.”

The statement was issued during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tajikistan.

But before that, Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had said a coalition government was Afghanistan’s internal matter.

Also last week UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, said: “We need peace in Afghanistan and an inclusive government that respects human rights and united with the world community.”

UNAMA’s concern about human rights and IEA response

Last week, the UN political mission in Afghanistan or UNAM criticized the Ministry of Vice and Virtue for some of its actions in its latest report, which called some restrictions, especially on women, as ‘worrisome”.

In its report, UNAMA claimed the ministry implemented instructions and orders in ways that led to violation of human rights.

The report says: “From August 15, 2021, to March 31, 2024, UNAMA documented at least 1,033 cases, 205 against women and 828 against men, in which Ministry of Vice and Virtue officials used force while implementing orders, leaving negative impacts on people’s freedom, physical and mental health”.

However, Zabihullah Mujahid rejected UNAMA’s criticism of Ministry of Vice and Virtue’s actions as unfounded and said its actions were based on known Islamic rules.

Mujahid remarked: “Unfortunately, the authors of the UNAMA report see Afghanistan from a Western angle, which is wrong. Afghanistan should be evaluated like a Muslim society.”

He added the absolute majority of Afghanistan’s population was Muslims who had rendered great sacrifices for the establishment of the Sharia system.

He said all Shariah rights of the citizens were guaranteed under the Islamic Emirate government in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Vice and Virtue also rejected the UNAMA report as ‘far from the truth’ and asked the UN mission to avoid statements that hurt the feelings of Muslims.

Alleged Al Qaeda presence in Afghanistan and IEA reaction

Last week, the UN Security Council sanctions committee in a report alleged ‘terrorist groups’ continued to see Afghanistan as a safe haven and the caretaker government had a soft stance against them living in some provinces.

The report also claimed that Al Qaeda had widened its network of training camps in Afghanistan.

However, Mujahid strongly rejected the claims and said no such groups existed in Afghanistan.

The UN report praised the caretaker government’s efforts against Daesh group, but expressed concern over its presence in Afghanistan.

Mujahid said: “The fitna called Daesh has been suppressed. Even if they commit crimes in a small area, they will be chased and destroyed. There is no such thing, it is unfortunate that the UN Security Council makes such reports”.

He said the IEA had repeatedly it would allow no one to use Afghanistan’s soil against others.

Problems of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Last week, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that Pakistani authorities had assured him of stopping the forced deportation of Afghan refugees

Grandi said: “We know the forced deportation of Afghan refugees is largely political.”

He said a tripartite meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR would discuss extension in the refugee cards in Pakistan and protection of their rights and depoliticizing the refugee crisis.

Deputy prime minister for political affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir urged neighboring countries to refrain from misbehaving with Afghan refugees and provide them with necessary facilities.

Pakistan embarked on expelling illegal Afghan refugees in October last year and has forcibly expelled more than half a million Afghan refugees so far.

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