UN OCHA Urges Protection of Civilians Amid Taliban-Pakistan Conflict
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed serious concern over the targeting of civilians amid the ongoing clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan. OCHA stated that civilians should never bear the cost of war and that their protection under international humanitarian law is a fundamental principle.
On Sunday, 4th July, OCHA posted a message on the social media platform X, highlighting that the violence goes beyond the destruction of homes and infrastructure; it disrupts people’s lives and spreads widespread fear within the community. According to the agency, continued insecurity causes severe psychological harm to residents, especially children.
OCHA’s representation in Afghanistan emphasized that all parties involved in the conflict are obligated to protect civilians. This comes as residents of border areas complain about ongoing attacks and the lack of effective measures to ensure their safety, underscoring the Taliban administration’s responsibility to safeguard lives.
One victim from recent incidents in the Spin Boldak district of Khost province told OCHA, “Since the airstrikes began, we cannot sleep peacefully. Every loud noise frightens us into reliving those moments. Our children become terrified whenever they hear planes overhead.”
Approximately one month ago, on June 9, the residential house of a civilian named ‘Babri’ in the Mena village of Spin Boldak district was bombed around 12:20 a.m. by Pakistani fighter jets. The attack resulted in nine deaths and ten injuries.
Mustaghfir Garbez, spokesperson for the Taliban administration governor in Khost, stated that the victims included one woman, one man, and several children. Additionally, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that recent Pakistani attacks on the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar killed 28 civilians and injured 49 others, all of whom were non-combatants.
