WorlPosted at: Aug 16 2021 10:53PM People in Kabul living in absolute fear, Taliban searching for targets: Afghan envoy at UNSC
United Nations, Aug 16 (UNI) People in Kabul are living in absolute fear, and residents are reporting that the Taliban have begun house-to-house searches looking for people on their target list, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UN Ghulam M. Isaczai said at the UN Security Council on Monday.
Addressing the UNSC meeting on Afghanistan, under the month-long presidency of India, Isaczai said the UN must use every means at its disposal to call for an immediate ceasefire.
“The Taliban is not honoring its promises and commitments made in its statements in Doha and other international fora. The residents are living in complete fear,” he said.
“We have seen how the Taliban have broken their promises and commitments in the past. We have seen gruesome images of Taliban’s mass executions of military personnel and targeted killings of civilians in Kandahar and other big cities. Mr President, we cannot allow this to happen in Kabul, which has been the last refuge for many people escaping violence and Taliban’s revenge attacks.
“Kabul residents are reporting that Taliban have already started house-to-house searches in some neighbourhoods, registering names and looking for people in their target list,” he added.
He said there are already reports of targeted killings and lootings in Kabul.
“Kabul residents are living in absolute fear right now, Mr President, there is no time for blame game anymore.
“We have an opportunity to prevent further violence, prevent Afghanistan from descending into a civil war, and becoming a pariah state.
“Therefore the Security Council and the UN Secretary General should use every means at its disposal to call for an immediate cessation of violence and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law,” Isaczai added.
“Today I am speaking on behalf of millions of people of Afghanistan. I am talking about the millions of Afghan girls and women who are about to lose their freedom to go to school and participate in political, economic and social life."
The special session on Afghanistan was called after the Taliban on Sunday took over Kabul, forcing president Ashraf Ghani to leave Afghanistan, leading to absolute chaos in the country.
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