UN Urges Immediate Action to Protect Civilians After Deadly Attacks in Eastern Afghanistan
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called for immediate measures to protect civilians, expressing concern over a rising number of civilian casualties in recent attacks in eastern Afghanistan.
The issue was raised during a meeting between UNAMA’s acting head, Georgette Gagnon, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister. Gagnon emphasized the need to safeguard civilian lives and urged the adoption of effective protective measures.
UNAMA confirmed that 10 civilians were killed in Monday night attacks in Khost province. The Taliban administration has blamed Pakistan for the assaults, an allegation Islamabad has strongly denied.
In response to UNAMA’s statement, Muttaqi thanked the UN body for its sympathy regarding recent earthquakes and cross-border attacks, particularly what he described as “Pakistan’s bombings,” reiterating that such actions constitute a violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity.
Muttaqi also referred to the efforts of the Doha Process working groups on counter-narcotics and private sector support, stating that it is time for stakeholders to take more tangible steps to advance the process.
The most recent Doha Process working group meeting was held in July this year in the Qatari capital. The initiative oversees international commitments to address Afghanistan’s crises but has yet to show significant progress.
