Afghanistan: American and British Embassies accuse Taliban of "massacres" of civilians

Afghan security services at the site of a car explosion in Kandahar on July 4, 2021. AFP - JAVED TANVEER

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"Massacres" of civilians perpetrated by the Taliban are reported in some districts, the American and British embassies were alarmed on Monday as religious fundamentalists tighten their grip on three major cities of the country, Herat, Kandahar and Lashkar Gah where the fighting continues to rage.

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Since the start of the

withdrawal of foreign troops,

which will be completed at the end of August, the Taliban have launched a major

offensive against government forces

and have gained large swathes of the country's territory. Thousands of Afghans have left their homes to seek refuge in neighboring villages or in provincial capitals. Civilians are paying a heavy price and massacres of civilians are reported in some districts, the US and British embassies said on Monday (August 2nd).

Charges based on a report by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

This indicates that " 

the Taliban identified, tracked down and then killed people who worked for the government even if they had no combat role

 ," reports our correspondent in Kabul 

Sonia Ghezali

.

The organization is based on investigations carried out in Spin Boldak, a district in the south of the country near the border with Pakistan that the Taliban seized last month.

Non-compliance with international humanitarian law

The commission says it has identified 40 people killed in the district by the Taliban. More than a week ago, the Afghan interior minister claimed that around 100 civilians had been murdered by the Taliban in Spin Boldak. Local media quoting the Afghan security services reported several days ago that many lifeless bodies were lying in the streets of the district. The Taliban have dismissed these accusations. These fighters do not engage in any witch hunts or looting, they defend themselves.

Several local officials, however, report human rights violations.

Fozia Koofi, member of the government delegation participating in the peace negotiations in Doha, accuses the Taliban of not respecting international humanitarian law.

In a speech to Parliament

on

Tuesday,

President Ashraf Ghani

blamed the deteriorating security situation on the United States' decision to withdraw from the country.

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Read also: Afghanistan: the UN warns of the increase in the number of civilian victims in 2021

A special program for all those who have helped the United States, near or far

Faced with "

the increase in violence on the part of the Taliban,

" the US State Department announced on Monday that it was ready to welcome more Afghan refugees if their lives are in danger. The United States has welcomed 400 Afghans who have worked with the military or the embassy, ​​and their families over the past five days. Washington says it is ready to welcome more Afghan refugees if their lives are in danger.

The Secretary of State announced the establishment of a special program for all Afghans who have helped the United States directly or indirectly, but who do not meet all the necessary criteria for an immigration visa Special reserved for those who have worked for the US military on a regular basis, says our correspondent in New York,

Loubna Anaki

. “ 

For example, those who worked on a project funded by the government, but not directly for the government. Or those who do not have the necessary seniority. We have a responsibility to these people. They have been by our side, we will be by their side,

 ”explained Antony Blinken.

The US Secretary of State announces that the United States is ready to welcome more refugees and their families if their security is threatened in Afghanistan with the return in force of the Taliban: " 

The Afghan people deserve a lasting peace and security which goes with.

We will do everything in our power to achieve this goal.

We will continue to welcome Afghan refugees as our neighbors in recognition of the help they have given us despite the danger. 

"

Since July 30,

the United States has already welcomed more than 400 Afghans

out of the 2,500 whose applications have already been validated for a special visa.

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  • Afghanistan

  • United States

  • Taliban