UN Calls for Immediate Protection of Civilians Amid Taliban-Pakistan Tensions
The United Nations has called for the immediate protection of civilians amid escalating clashes between the Taliban administration and Pakistan, stating that due to limited access to information, it is currently unable to provide accurate casualty figures.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 3 March, the UN announced that insecurity has forced numerous families in northwestern Afghanistan to flee their homes. According to the organization, the displacement of these families has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region.
The statement added that relief operations have been temporarily halted in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while aid efforts continue in the southern parts of the province. The UN warned that ongoing insecurity could further hinder access for those in need of humanitarian services.
The international body also confirmed that Pakistani airstrikes have caused casualties and damage to residential homes. According to the provided information, five people, including children, were wounded near the Torkham border crossing, and two others were injured in Nangarhar province’s Nari District.
UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric emphasized, “Civilians must be protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure.”
While border tensions between the Taliban administration and Pakistan have a long history, human rights organizations have repeatedly urged both sides to refrain from escalating conflicts in residential areas. However, the Taliban administration also bears responsibility to protect the lives and property of the country’s residents and to prevent harm to civilians during such tensions.
