By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Thursday called for Afghanistan and Pakistan to permanently end recent deadly hostilities and protect civilians, in a statement issued in New York.
UNAMA welcomed the ceasefire between the two sides announced on Wednesday after a week of cross-border clashes and airstrikes in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Afghanistan has been under Taliban rule since 2021 and relations between the neighboring countries have deteriorated since then.
Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants who have carried out attacks on its territory, which the de facto authorities have denied.
UNAMA said “Since 10 October, cross-border armed violence has escalated significantly between the two parties, killing and injuring scores of civilians.”
The Mission received credible reports of significant civilian casualties, including women and children, because of the violence.
It stated that the highest numbers were in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, where heavy fighting between Taliban security forces and the Pakistani military took place on Wednesday.
UNAMA is assessing the exact number of civilian casualties, information indicates that at least 17 people were killed and 346 injured in Spin Boldak.
It also documented at least one civilian killed and 15 injured as a result of earlier cross-border clashes in Paktika, Patkya, Kunar and Helmand provinces.
“UNAMA calls on all parties to bring a lasting end to hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life,” the statement said.
It reminded the parties of their obligations to comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties, in line with international law, the statement concluded.
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