9 killed in Afghanistan last week

KABUL (Pajhwok): Over 90,000 Afghan refugees returned to the country last week. Meanwhile, the UNHCR announced a temporary suspension of its cash aid and support centers and the UN Human Rights Council accused Afghanistan of human rights violations—an allegation rejected by the Islamic Emirate.

Key developments last week:

• Over 90,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan and Iran.
• Mullah Baradar called for an end to the financial and banking restrictions imposed on Afghanistan.
• UNHCR announced the temporary suspension of its cash aid and support center operations.
• Qatar urged the international community to assist in resolving Afghanistan’s issues.
• The UN Human Rights Council alleged human rights violations in Afghanistan; the Islamic Emirate rejected these claims.
• FM Muttaqi called on countries to return Afghanistan’s planes and helicopters.

Casualties

Last week, nine people were killed in various incidents across Afghanistan.

According to reports, seven members of a family—including five children—lost their lives in an explosion in a house in Bala Boluk district of Farah province.

Similarly, local officials say that in Rodat district of Nangarhar province, a man killed his brother and nephew during a land dispute.

In previous week, two people were killed in separate incidents in Afghansitan.

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

Afghan Refugees Return

Ahmadullah Wasiq, spokesman for the Commission for Addressing Refugees’ Issues, stated that more than 238,700 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in the past month.

Officials reported that 90,710 refugees returned last week alone, distributed as follows:

• 53,568 via Torkham crossing in Nangarhar,
• 25,222 via Islam Qala crossing in Herat,
• 7,200 via Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar,
• 4,222 via the Silk Bridge (Pul-i-Abrisham) in Nimroz,
• 498 via Bahramchi crossing in Helmand.

Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, said that approximately three million refugees have returned — voluntarily or forcibly — over the past three years, under the management of the Islamic Emirate.

The UNHCR said it continues to provide emergency assistance to returnees in cooperation with its partners but recently announced a temporary suspension of its cash aid and support centers due to Afghan authorities restricting female staff from accessing UN compounds.

The UNHCR emphasized that services to women cannot be provided without female staff.

Calls for lifting restrictions on Afghanistan

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, urged the international community to lift the sanctions imposed on Afghanistan.

During a visit to earthquake-hit areas in eastern Kunar province, he said lifting these restrictions would remove obstacles to aid delivery and help resolve economic problems.

Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed gratitude to countries and international organizations that assisted earthquake victims in eastern Afghanistan.

He also voiced concern that sanctions prevent Afghans abroad from sending aid home and called on the international community to lift these restrictions, emphasizing their harmful impact on humanitarian efforts.

Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, casualties

Last week, an earthquake struck Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Panjshir and Nuristan provinces, with the most severe casualties in Kunar. Reports indicate the earthquake killed 2,205 people and injured 3,640 others.

Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al-Suwaidi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said the international community must support Afghanistan by assisting with reconstruction, ensuring humanitarian access, unfreezing assets and engaging in dialogue with all parties to reduce the country’s challenges.

Afghan aircraft demand for return

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister has called on countries holding Afghan helicopters and aircraft since the fall of the previous government to return these assets.

Although reports last week claimed Uzbekistan agreed to return some helicopters and aircraft, Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov dismissed these as baseless and stated Tashkent’s position remains unchanged.

Over 40 aircraft and helicopters were reportedly flown to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in August 2021 after the previous government’s collapse.

At a recent session in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council, representing 38 countries and several organizations, expressed concern about the lack of protection for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and called on the Islamic Emirate to honor its international commitments.

The Islamic Emirate rejected these allegations. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said, “No one’s rights have been violated in Afghanistan. Everyone’s Sharia-based rights are protected. Our system safeguards the rights of all citizens in accordance with Islamic law. The claims made by some institutions are incorrect, and we reject them.”

Assistance

Last week, the European Union announced €14 million in aid to support the Afghan people. Several countries and organizations have also provided assistance or pledged support to earthquake victims in eastern Afghanistan.

Although the total amount of aid remains undisclosed, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a list of 48 countries and organizations that have contributed or expressed solidarity, extending gratitude for their support.

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