The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The U.N. special rapporteur on Afghanistan has called for prompt and impartial investigations into reports of killings during security operations in Kabul, following claims by Taliban authorities that four armed men were killed in a clash with security forces.
Richard Bennett said on X on Monday that he had “serious
concerns” about reports of killings during security operations in Kabul,
including four people who were reportedly shot Monday and seven others who were
killed recently in Kabul’s eighth security district.
“Prompt, impartial investigations [are] needed,” Bennett
said. He added that any use of lethal force must comply with international
human rights law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Taliban security officials in Kabul said four armed robbers
were killed during a clash with Taliban forces in the city’s 18th security
district.
Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Taliban’s Kabul police
command, said on X that the men had entered a house Monday morning with the
intention of committing a robbery.
According to Zadran, Taliban security forces were alerted to
the incident and arrived at the scene, where an armed confrontation broke out
between the forces and the suspects.
Zadran said two pistols were recovered from the men.
The Taliban authorities did not provide further details
about the identities of those killed or whether any security personnel or
civilians were wounded in the incident.
Bennett’s comments come amid continued concerns by U.N.
officials and rights groups over the use of force and accountability by Taliban
security institutions in Afghanistan.
