KABUL (Pajhwok): Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has condemned the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan, saying there is no justification for killing civilians and that those responsible must be held accountable.
In a post on X, Bennett said Pakistani military forces had carried out airstrikes on Kunar and Helmand provinces the previous night, causing civilian casualties, most of them children.
He questioned whether the incident was the result of incompetence, negligence, or something worse.
“Whatever the case, there is no justification for causing such irreparable harm to civilians,” Bennett said, adding that the attacks appeared to constitute violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed the previous day that at least 10 civilians had been killed and nine others injured in Pakistani airstrikes on Kunar and Helmand provinces, most of them children.
Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also said the previous day that Pakistani aircraft had bombed civilian homes in the Chugam area of Shaltan district in Kunar and the Safar area of Garmser district in Helmand.
He said nine people, including women and children, had been martyred and 11 others injured in the attacks, while three houses had been destroyed.
Mujahid condemned the attacks, describing them as an act of aggression and a crime contrary to all accepted principles.
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