UN says nearly 400 civilians killed in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover
March 7, 2022, 6:09 pm

UN says nearly 400 civilians killed in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover

Taliban-Archives

The National Post reported, citing Reuters, the United Nations human rights chief said on Monday nearly 400 people had been killed in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, many at the hands of a group affiliated to the Islamic State.

Speaking at a month-long session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet added that more than 50 individuals with suspected ties to that group known as ISIS-K had been killed, with some beheaded and their bodies discarded in public.

Taliban fighters pepper spray women protesters calling for rights to work and education

Actions by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have curtailed women’s rights and freedoms, Bachelet said in the same speech. She called for women to be allowed to “fully participate” in public life.

Source: nationalpost

Russian, Ukrainian FMs to meet in Turkey on Thursday Geneva: A photo exhibition documenting the crimes and violations of the Houthi militia against civilians

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.