Taliban’s Repression of Women & Girls Is Heinous, Says US Special Representative Amiri

Among them, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan, also emphasised on the necessity of such an investigation.

Bennett emphasised that there has been a prolonged period of impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and human rights violations in Afghanistan.

The UN official focused on a comprehensive and unbiased investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, stressing on accountability for these crimes.

However, Bennett did not mention any specific cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed in Afghanistan.

He mentioned the deprivation of women and gender discrimination in Afghanistan as a potential subject of investigation concerning the violation of human rights in the country. He said that it may be possible to open a case for it in international courts.

He added that according to international laws, the United Nations does not have the authority to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, and it is exclusive to the International Criminal Court.

The meeting was held on Friday titled "Accountability for Crimes Committed in Afghanistan: ICC and Beyond", in the presence of four prominent human rights experts.

The meeting was held with a warning that there is a risk of overlooking war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan.

In this meeting, it was emphasised that with the rise of the Taliban and the escalation of human rights violations in Afghanistan under their rule, the demand for justice and accountability is more than ever.

The United Nations began the meeting reminding that Afghanistan has witnessed serious violations of human rights in the past four decades, and so far, domestic and international efforts to respond to these war crimes and crimes against humanity in this country have been insufficient.

The International Criminal Court resumed its investigation into the crimes of the Taliban and ISIS a year ago, and the calls for this investigation have since intensified.

The United Nations meeting, held on Friday, focused on the investigation by the International Criminal Court and underscored the imperative to hold those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan accountable.

This most wanted list encompasses individuals operating across Afghanistan and in at least seven other countries.

The document, verified by the Taliban Intelligence Agency's "05" and "031" units, categorises the individuals into two distinct groups. The first group, consisting of 587 names, identifies those associated with armed groups like the NRF and the AFF, active in 28 Afghan provinces. The document also indicates that some of these individuals operate in Iran, Tajikistan, and other unspecified countries.

Laghman province is highlighted as a significant hub for these groups, with 98 individuals identified, followed by Panjshir with 78, Parwan with 45, and Baghlan with 36. The list also includes individuals from Kabul, Kapisa, Badakhshan, Herat, Samangan, Nuristan, Badghis, Ghor, and Balkh provinces, with each region reporting 12 to 32 alleged members.

The document further notes that fewer than ten individuals from each of the provinces of Maidan Wardak, Kandahar, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Sar-e Pol, Farah, Kunar, Logar, Ghazni, Khost, Daikundi, and Helmand are on the list. Additionally, nearly 40 individuals' activities are linked to Iran, Tajikistan, and locations outside Afghanistan.

The Taliban has labelled these individuals as either directly involved in "evil and corrupt" activities or as collaborators. The roles identified include leaders, financial officers, arms distributors, and secret allies.

The second part of the list targets 1,054 individuals purportedly affiliated with ISIS, especially the ISIS Khorasan group. Roles such as commanders, financial officers, communication officers, bomb transfer officers, and general members are specified. Furthermore, the list accuses some individuals of recruitment and propaganda efforts on social media for ISIS Khorasan.

Designations within ISIS include military base heads, intelligence coordinators, "Salafist" preachers, and trainers for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants.

The largest concentration of these alleged ISIS members is in Kunar province, with 296 individuals, followed by Nangarhar with 284, Laghman with 80, and Kabul with 67. The Taliban intelligence document also mentions Pakistan, Uzbekistan, India, Chechnya, Turkey, China, and Iran as additional operational regions for over 80 members of the ISIS Khorasan group.

Mujahid clarified that the Taliban has made no commitments to anyone regarding such a government setup.

Mujahid responded to Hekmatyar's claims, urging caution in making unverified statements. Hekmatyar, the leader of the Hizb-e-Islami party, previously stated that the US proposed a list and requested the Taliban to form an inclusive government as part of the Doha agreement and warned of supporting opposition groups if the Taliban failed to comply.

A source told Afghanistan International that the US's proposed list for an "inclusive government" was discussed in Taliban's cabinet meetings. Hekmatyar, in a virtual party meeting in Kabul, noted a shift in the US's tone and stance towards Afghanistan and inferred the involvement of strategically interested countries in recent anti-Taliban meetings in Moscow, Dushanbe, Vienna, and other locations.

These gatherings, including those led by the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan under Ahmad Massoud, seem to have bolstered the unity among Taliban opponents. Massoud hailed the recent Vienna meeting's outcomes as significant. At this meeting, Fazl Ahmad Manawi, ex-Justice Minister and National Resistance Front senior member, discussed agreements on a "roadmap" to resolve the Afghan crisis. The Vienna meeting saw participation from leaders of 29 Afghan political groups and representatives from Western countries, including the US, the UK, Austria, Germany, Spain, and Norway.

In an interview with Iranian Jamaran Media, Mohaqiq criticised the Taliban for failing to provide security to these communities and suggested their possible involvement in the violence.

Mohaqiq highlighted a book by Noor Mohammad Islamjar, Taliban’s governor for Herat, which labels Shias as a "takfiri sect" and associates them with infidels, exacerbating sectarian tensions. He questioned the Taliban's claim of protecting Shias and Hazaras, pointing out the systematic assassinations of Shia religious scholars without any consequent prosecutions.

The recent attack in the Jebrael area of Herat, which resulted in the death of six individuals including two Shia clerics, was cited as an example of the ongoing violence. The incident sparked protests in Herat, with residents demanding justice for the targeted killings of Hazaras and Shias.

Mohaqiq dismissed the likelihood of other terrorist groups like ISIS, TTP, and Jamaat Ansarullah of Tajikistan, being behind these attacks. He asserted that the current climate in Afghanistan is marked by ethnic and religious discrimination, leaving Shias and Hazaras vulnerable and defenceless.

In a letter to the US Congress, Biden said that US forces in the region are ready to respond to "possible threats" from Afghanistan.

He also informed the House of Representatives about the deployment of US forces in the region through the letter.

The first country mentioned in Joe Biden's letter is Afghanistan. “United States military personnel remain postured outside Afghanistan to address threats to the United States homeland and United States interests that may arise from inside Afghanistan,” he said.

The US president has stated that anti-terrorism operations conducted by the United States in Syria and Iraq have weakened the capabilities of ISIS in these countries.

The letter states that it is currently not possible to determine the scope and duration of the deployment of US forces in the region. However, he emphasised that, if necessary, he will take additional measures “to protect the people and interests of the United States”.

Biden also mentioned about the deployment of the US Army in the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, South Africa, Cuba and the Philippines.

Over two years following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, concerns persist regarding the activities of terrorist groups in the region.

Several countries, particularly in Central Asia, have consistently warned about the escalation of terrorist group activities in Afghanistan.

US State Department, in its annual report for 2022 which was published this month, said that Afghanistan's neighbours are concerned about possible terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

It also added that despite the Taliban's commitment not to permit Afghanistan's soil to be used against other countries, the group continued to provide shelter to terrorist organisations.

However, Taliban officials claim that Afghanistan is not a security threat to other countries and that the group has suppressed groups such as ISIS.