KABUL— At least 81 civilians were killed and 111 others wounded in violent attacks across Afghanistan from November 2024 to January 2025, according to a United Nations report highlighting persistent security threats and human rights concerns.
The report attributes the majority of civilian deaths to attacks by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), including the November 21 killing of 11 Sufi worshippers in Baghlan Province.
The U.N. documented six ISIS-K attacks targeting religious minorities, Taliban officials, and government institutions, including:
A December 11 suicide bombing inside the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in Kabul, which killed four people, including a Taliban minister.
A January 7 attack in Baghlan-e Jadid District, which killed a senior cleric at a grand mosque.
A January 21 targeted killing of a Chinese national and a Taliban security officer in Takhar Province.
The report also highlights cross-border airstrikes and armed clashes as a growing concern.
On December 24, Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika Province killed at least 45 civilians, including 30 children.
Armed clashes between Pakistani border forces and Taliban fighters in Paktiya Province resulted in three additional deaths and six injuries.
Cross-border shelling and skirmishes intensified in Khost, Paktiya, and Kunar Provinces between late December and early January, displacing 250 families.
The U.N. report also highlights ongoing targeted killings of former security officials, despite Taliban claims of offering amnesty. At least one extrajudicial killing, 37 arbitrary arrests, and 18 cases of torture were reported in the past three months.
In addition, the report notes at least two targeted killings of senior commanders from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Afghanistan in late 2024.
The U.N. has called for greater accountability from Taliban authorities while urging international actors to address Afghanistan’s worsening security environment. The report warns that continued instability, cross-border tensions, and militant activity could further exacerbate regional security risks.
