Instability in Afghanistan Increases by 55% in Last Quarter, Says UN Secretary-General

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, reported a significant rise in instability in Afghanistan, with over 2,500 security incidents recorded in the past three months.

Guterres highlighted that insecurity in February, March, and April of this year increased by 55% compared to the previous three months.

Notably, drug-related incidents surged by 97%, from 212 to 418 cases. The majority of these incidents occurred in the central, northeastern, southeastern, and southern regions of Afghanistan.

According to the UN report, the primary cause of this instability is the "ruling authorities' decision" to enforce a ban on poppy cultivation.

Additionally, land disputes have risen from 20 to 51 cases in the past three months, predominantly in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan. During this period, armed clashes increased from 75 to 106 cases, although the number of explosions has decreased.

The report underscores the growing challenges faced by Afghanistan as it continues to grapple with security issues amidst ongoing efforts to enforce new policies.