WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – In his latest report on the situation in Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reveals a 55% increase in security related incidents, with over 2,500 incidents recorded in the past three months.
In his quarterly report covering February to May 2024, released on Friday, June 21, the UN chief highlighted that drug-related incidents increased by 97%, land disputes have risen from 20 to 51 cases, and armed clashes increased from 75 to 106 cases compared to the same period last year.
In March 2023, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution requesting the UN chief to provide quarterly reports on the situation in Afghanistan and the implementation of the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
In his new report, the UN chief states that although armed opposition groups did not present a significant challenge to the Taliban, they have continued to launch deadly attacks against Taliban forces over the past three months.
“The Afghanistan Freedom Front carried out 14 attacks, all of which took place in Kabul City, compared with the 24 confirmed attacks recorded in the previous reporting period,” the UN chief said. “The National Resistance Front carried out 29 confirmed attacks, with 20 in Kabul, 6 in Takhar Province, 2 in Baghlan Province and 1 in Parwan Province,” he added.
According to the report, the local branch of Islamic State, IS-KP, carried out at least six attacks during the reporting period, targeting both Taliban members and the Hazara-Shia community in Kabul and other provinces.
Regarding the internal rift among the Taliban, the new report highlights ongoing divergent views within their leadership on governance issues, including the enforcement of the drug ban.
“The de facto authorities maintained public unity and exerted authority over the entire national territory, although some internal tensions persisted within their structure, such as the enforcement of the drug ban,” part of the report reads.
“They continued their outreach with communities to bridge gaps and to elicit their support, while reducing the space for men and women to conduct civil and political activities,” it added.
Concerning the status of women and girls under Taliban rule, the report underscores that their rights and fundamental freedoms, such as access to education and freedom of movement, remained severely restricted.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have steadily imposed repressive measures against women and girls in Afghanistan. Under their rule, women are prohibited from working in the public sector and for NGOs, pursuing secondary and university education, traveling long distances without male relatives, and accessing parks, public baths, and gyms.
In his report, the UN chief also highlighted that despite the Taliban authorities’ claims of being committed to the general amnesty announced by their supreme leader, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings of former government officials and civilians continue to be reported.
“Between February and May, UNAMA documented at least three extrajudicial killings, 37 arbitrary arrests and detentions and four instances of torture and ill-treatment of former government officials and members of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,” the UN report said.
“UNAMA also recorded six extrajudicial killings, 35 arbitrary arrests and detentions and two instances of torture and ill-treatment of individuals accused of an affiliation with the National Resistance Front and ISIL-K,” it added.
