The Taliban flogged 215 people including 44 women and 171 men across Afghanistan between 1 August and 31 October this year, according to a UN report presented to the Security Council on Wednesday.
The report also states that Taliban officials carried out the eleventh public execution during the same period, in Badghis Province.
The United Nations said unexploded ordnance continued to kill and injure civilians, reporting that eight civilians, including six children, were killed and 29 others wounded over the three-month period. At least one person in Afghanistan is killed or injured daily by explosive remnants of war, according to the report.
The UN noted that activities such as surveying, mine clearance, explosive-ordnance risk education and victim assistance decreased by 42 per cent this year compared with the same period last year due to budget cuts.
Between July and September, around 160 violations of children’s rights were documented, affecting at least 90 children, including 17 girls. These violations included the killing and maiming of children, denial of humanitarian access and attacks on schools and health facilities.
The report found that during the three-month period, the Taliban subjected Afghan citizens to arbitrary detentions and long prison sentences for what they described as violations of the law on the propagation of virtue. Scrutiny by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice within the education sector intensified, with reports indicating that 51 subjects such as civic values and human rights were removed from the school curriculum, while dozens more were flagged for review under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic principles.
In the health sector, Taliban restrictions significantly reduced women’s access to medical treatment and training during this period. Male dentists were banned from treating female patients.
Regarding prisons, the UN said that despite the release of some detainees, the total number of prisoners under Taliban rule has reached its highest level, estimated at 30,000 to 32,000.
Rise in Security Incidents and Continued Killings of Former Security Forces
Georgette Gagnon, UNAMA’s acting chief, wrote in her quarterly report to the Security Council that the organisation recorded 2,737 security incidents between 1 August and 31 October, a 14.7 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
Anti-Taliban armed groups claimed responsibility for 41 security incidents in Baghlan, Helmand, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Kunduz, Nimroz, Panjshir and Takhar provinces, of which 19 were verified. These groups include the Afghanistan Freedom Front, the National Resistance Front, the National Battle Front, the National Mobilisation Front, the Islamic Liberation Front of the Afghan People and the Afghanistan Liberation Movement. The UN did not specify which claims were verified.
Despite these incidents, the report noted that opposition armed groups have not posed a “serious challenge” to Taliban authority.
Decline in Islamic State–Khorasan (ISKP) Attacks
The UN said ISKP attacks decreased in number and scope between 1 August and 31 October. It reported that on 12 August, ISKP claimed two of its fighters arrested for theft were taken from Kunduz prison and killed in custody. On 13 August, Taliban forces killed an ISKP commander, and on 15 August ISKP said it executed a man in Nangarhar accused of informing for the Taliban.
Border Clashes
The report documented several border incidents involving Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan.
On 13 August in Nangarhar Province, Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters clashed over new Taliban security posts. In Kunar Province, Pakistani forces fired mortar rounds into Afghanistan.
On 6 August, Taliban border police clashed with Pakistani forces in Badakhshan over the construction of a border post.
Taliban forces and Tajik border police exchanged fire on 25 August and 24 October.
On 29 August in Kunar, two separate incidents were reported: one involving exchanges of fire that caused property damage, and another involving artillery shells fired from Pakistan.
UNAMA wrote that on 30 August, Taliban forces and Iranian border guards exchanged fire after reports that Iranian forces had beaten Afghans attempting to cross the border, briefly closing the crossing.
Further incidents on 5, 14 and 16 September in Kunar saw mortar and small-arms fire from Pakistan destroy a private home, kill livestock and damage other property.
Clashes With Pakistan
Pakistan continues to claim that the Afghan Taliban are sheltering TTP fighters inside Afghanistan, an allegation the Taliban deny.
UNAMA documented airstrikes and drone activity across Afghanistan between 1 August and 31 October. Surveillance drones were observed over several districts in Ghazni, Helmand, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Logar, Nangarhar, Paktia and Parwan.
Airstrikes on 11 August in Nuristan and on 27 August in Khost, Kunar and Nangarhar targeted areas allegedly housing TTP members, resulting in civilian casualties.
Increased drone activity was reported on 14 September in Khost, 17 September in Paktika and Paktia, 23 September in Kandahar and 30 September in Kunduz.
The UN said reports indicate airstrikes on 9 October targeted TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud in Kabul, though he is believed to have survived. Another TTP-linked figure, Hafiz Bahadur Gul, was reportedly targeted in an airstrike in Paktika on 10 October.
The report noted that after the Taliban Ministry of Defense launched an operation, several border clashes and airstrikes occurred between 10 and 18 October in provinces bordering Pakistan, including Spin Boldak in Kandahar and parts of Kabul. Two rocket explosions in Kabul’s District 4 on 15 October caused multiple casualties.
Heavy Civilian Casualties in Taliban–Pakistan Fighting
Gagnon said that between 10 and 17 October alone, at least 50 civilians were killed and 453 others injured in clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces. Most casualties were caused by airstrikes and cross-border shelling in Spin Boldak and Kabul.
According to the report, the Taliban intelligence directorate informed UNAMA in writing that the 15 October attacks caused “extensive civilian casualties” and violated Pakistan’s earlier commitment to refrain from further strikes.
Continued Arrest, Torture and Killing of Former Security Personnel
UNAMA documented at least six killings, 24 arbitrary detentions and six cases of torture or ill-treatment of former security personnel and government officials between 1 August and 31 October.
Restrictions and Security Incidents Affecting UN Staff
The UN reported 63 safety and security incidents directly affecting its staff. It said restrictions on UN activities increased after the Taliban leader issued a strict order banning Afghan female UN staff from entering office premises.
UNAMA wrote that Taliban Ministry of Defense personnel were stationed outside the UN Operations Centre in Kabul to block the entry of Afghan female staff, and similar measures were taken near the “Baron” compound in Kabul.
