Afghans are skeptical and are racing to the leave the country, leading to chaos at Kabul’s international airport.
The United Nations has warned that the Taliban are already carrying out severe rights abuses in Afghanistan including ‘summary executions’ of civilians, the recruitment of child soldiers and restrictions on the rights of women and girls.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, disclosed this in a statement.
Bachelet urged the Human Rights Council to take ‘bold and vigorous action’ after the Taliban’s stunning takeover raised fears that they will return the country to the brutal rule they imposed when they were last in power.
Taliban leaders have promised to restore security and tried to project an image of moderation, but many Afghans are skeptical and are racing to the leave the country, leading to chaos at Kabul’s international airport.
Amid scattered reports, it has been difficult to determine how widespread abuses might be and whether they reflect that Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters on the ground are taking matters into their own hands.
Leaders from the G7 nations plan to meet later Tuesday to discuss the burgeoning refugee crisis and the collapse of the Afghan government amid wrangling over whether the full US withdrawal of troops could be extended beyond the end of the month to allow more time to evacuate those desperate to leave.
US administration officials have refused to be pinned down about whether an extension is likely or even possible given that a Taliban spokesman has warned that August 31 is a ‘red line’ and that extending the American presence would ‘provoke a reaction’.
According to Daily Mail, Bachelet on Tuesday called for strong action to investigate reports of rights abuses, as she sought to ensure that international attention on the country doesn’t wane.
“At this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights,” she said.
“I urge this council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis, by establishing a dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan.
By “mechanism”, Bachelet was referring to the possibility that the council might appoint a commission of inquiry, special rapporteur or fact-finding mission on the situation in Afghanistan.
Bachelet cited reports of summary executions of civilians and former security forces who were no longer fighting, the recruitment of child soldiers, and restrictions on the rights of women to move around freely and of girls to go to school. She cited repression of peaceful protests and expressions of dissent.
She did not specify what time timeframe she was referring to or the source of her reports.