Serious violations by Taliban in Afghanistan: UN human rights chief

The UN human rights chief said Tuesday she had received credible reports of serious violations by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including “simple executions” of civilians and Afghan security forces that surrendered.

Michelle Bachelet did not provide details of the killings in her speech to the Human Rights Council, but urged it to put in place a mechanism to closely monitor the Taliban’s actions.

According to a resolution agreed later on Tuesday by the Geneva Forum, it should report on the situation and all violations committed by the Taliban at the September-October meeting and submit a detailed written report in March 2022.

The Taliban’s treatment of women and girls would be “a fundamental red line,” Bachelet said at an emergency council meeting held at the request of Pakistan and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Pakistani Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the resolution expresses great concern about reports of violations and sends a “message of solidarity to the Afghan people”.

Austria’s ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger said on behalf of the EU that the consensus was being followed, although the resolution “falls short”.

The bloc tried to launch an international investigation, she said.

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, a senior Afghan diplomat in the ousted government, called for accountability for the Taliban’s actions, describing an “unsafe and dire” situation in which millions of people fear for their lives.

“Surveillance is essential to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability,” Andisha said during the talks.

Independent UN human rights experts said in a joint statement that many people were in hiding as “the Taliban continued to search door-to-door” and reports of seizures and reprisals.

“The actions of the Taliban during these months and to this day can amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” they said.

However, China’s UN Ambassador to Geneva, Chen Xu, said the US Army and the military of other coalition partners, including the UK and Australia, should be held accountable for alleged violations of law by their armed forces in Afghanistan.

The US condemned attacks against civilians, journalists, activists and minorities, but did not name the Taliban.

Amnesty International said its investigation into the massacre of nine Hazara men in Ghazni province last month “is evidence that the Taliban’s ability to murder and torture has not diminished”.

“The special session of the UN Human Rights Council did not provide a credible answer to the escalating human rights crisis in Afghanistan”? That said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

UN connections

According to an internal UN report, Taliban fighters have occupied some UN premises in Afghanistan, searched and ransacked offices and, in one case, asked the guards to deliver meals to a commanding officer and his men.

“We have also been ordered by the Taliban to remain on our premises ‘for our safety’, which is equivalent to ‘asking permission before we think about leaving,'” the Ministry of Security and Protection wrote in the report .