Latest News
Amnesty International says deliberate killing of Afghan civilians must be investigated
Amnesty International in a statement on Wednesday called on the Afghan authorities to investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of a “brutal” series of attacks amounting to war crimes that have killed at least 24 civilians in little over a week.
Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s South Asia Campaigner stated: “The targeting of civilians with near-total impunity continues unabated. While peace talks falter and preparations for the full withdrawal of international forces gather pace, it’s Afghanistan’s civilians who are paying the brutal price of this conflict.”
The statement comes a day after five health workers were killed and four others injured after gunmen opened fire at various polio vaccination centers across the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province.
The incident comes shortly after two car bombs killed at least seven civilians and injured at least six others in a district of Western Kabul largely populated by members of the persecuted Hazara minority on 12 June, Amnesty International said.
“The Afghan authorities must end this cycle of impunity by launching independent and effective investigations into these and other attacks on civilians and bring those responsible to justice,” Hamidi noted.
“We urge all parties to the conflict to take all measures necessary to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law. And we call on the international community to make the protection of civilians and of minorities a central component of their ongoing support of the peace process.,” she stated.
“The targeting of civilians with near-total impunity,” Hamidi emphasized.
The incidents this week follow the killing of 10 mine clearers, many of whom were Hazara, working for the international humanitarian organization the Halo Trust in Baghlan province on 8 June, in an attack that injured 16 others.
Health workers, humanitarians, human rights defenders, and journalists have been particularly targeted in a wave of assassinations since the start of peace talks in Doha last year, the statement said.
“In recent months we have seen appalling attacks on schoolchildren, health workers, humanitarians, and other civilians in busy streets and markets. Deliberately attacking medical personnel, humanitarian workers, and other civilians are war crimes,” said Samira Hamidi.
Officials at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) say 7,000 incomplete projects of the World Bank are at risk of destruction in Afghanistan. They call on the World Bank to resume the work of these projects.
According to them, discussions have been held with the World Bank about these projects, but there has been no result yet.
“7,000 incomplete projects are being destroyed, and if the work is not started, these projects will be destroyed. We ask the World Bank to resume the work of these projects as soon as possible,” said Noorul Hadi Adel, the spokesperson of MRRD.
Meanwhile, members of the private sector also ask international institutions to resume their work in Afghanistan.
According to the officials of this sector, with the start of these projects, job opportunities will be provided for thousands of people in the country.
“These projects create employment for our people and the country will grow a lot,” said Mirwais Hajizadeh, a member of the private sector.
However, economic experts stated if the work of these projects does not start soon, they will be destroyed and the investments made in them will be wasted.
Ten people have been killed and six others injured by floods in Helmand province in the past week, local officials said on Friday.
According to officials, seven of those were members of the same family, and they were killed in Kajaki district last night.
“Most of the people moved from vulnerable areas to high lands and mountains, and thanks Allah the number of casualties is low,” Sher Mohammad Vahdat, the head of information of the Directorate of Information and Culture in Helmand, said adding rescue teams and security forces have been dispatched to help people.
It is said that the telecommunication system has also been disrupted due to the effect of floods in Kajaki district. Floods have also destroyed thousands of acres of agricultural land.
Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi and discussed issues related to Afghanistan, it was announced on Thursday.
During the meeting, Otunbayeva thanked India for “its critical humanitarian support and longstanding friendship for the Afghan people” and discussed the importance of regional and international cooperation to address prevailing challenges in Afghanistan, UNAMA said on X.
Jaishankar also said on X that the sides exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan.
“Underlined that India has provided wheat, medicines, pesticides and school supplies. Appreciate the role of UN agencies as partners in these endeavors,” he said.
IEA urges World Bank to resume work on 7,000 incomplete projects
Ten people killed by floods in Helmand
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
UN envoy meets Indian foreign minister to discuss Afghanistan
Traffic accident leaves one dead, four injured in Herat
ATN secures TV and digital rights to broadcast IPL 2024 in Afghanistan
Blinken meets with Saudi Crown Prince to discuss Gaza
Afghanistan and India play out goalless draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Dead body of Quran-burner found in Norway
ATN secures rights to produce, broadcast second season of KPL
Tahawol: China’s call for inclusive government in Afghanistan
Saar: UN’s report on poverty in Afghanistan discussed
Tahawol: Russia and Tajikistan hold joint military drills along Afghanistan border
Saar: Anti-corruption efforts & better public services discussed
Tahawol: Abdul Kabir’s recent remarks discussed
-
Sport4 days agoACL fever grows as fixtures finalized
-
World4 days agoUS will not take part in any Israeli retaliatory action against Iran
-
Latest News4 days agoOver 50 people dead in traffic accidents over Eid
-
Latest News4 days agoUS identifies Kabul airport suicide bomber
-
Latest News4 days agoGood rains enable DABS to increase power production in Kabul
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan-Kazakhstan chamber of commerce opens in Herat
-
World3 days agoIsraeli military vows response to Iran attack as calls for restraint mount
-
Latest News3 days agoPakistani police give Afghans in Balochistan one day to leave