By Chathushka Perera
KABUL, Afghanistan (CWBN)_ The United States, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued statements yesterday (15th), requesting the Taliban to cease its military offensives in the Helmand Province under the control of the Afghan Government. The engagements in Helmand began following stagnation in the peace process late last week.
Sources in Doha inform that discussions between the two parties were recommenced yesterday, concerning two of twenty disputed articles of interest, pertaining to religion and the Taliban-US Agreement, signed in February. UNAMA stressed that de-escalation is critical as the conflict has the potential of derailing the hard fought peace process, which officially began on 12th September in Doha, Qatar.
According members of the Afghan Government’s delegation, recommendations were presented to the opposing party and it is expected that one of the recommendations be approved, allowing the peace process to move forward. In the case that the recommendations are disregarded, the Taliban will have to be requested to provide alternative solutions to the matter.
It is still unclear what the recommendations presented by the Afghan Government are, however, local news channels have reported that one of the recommendations involved the addition of a United Nations Security Council Resolution, which recognizes the Afghan Government as the legitimate authority in the country, hence excluding an Islamic Emirate under Taliban control, as a part of the Taliban-US Agreement.
UNAMA reported that civilians in the Helmand face the bulwark of the conflict in the region. Dozens of men, women and children have been killed or wounded, while the more fortunate have been forced to flee their homes in the thousands. The UN body further stated that the number of civilian casualties is used to measure the intensity of the conflict. In 2020, statistics indicated relatively lower rates; however, with tensions escalating, the numbers of casualties are bound to rise.
Edited by Elishya Perera
