Taliban summoned several officials from the UN mission in Afghanistan over its latest report detailing alleged abuse, arbitrary detention and threats against Afghans deported from neighboring countries, but gave no details about the meeting.
In a statement, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry rejected the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report as “biased.” The ministry said that, on orders from the Taliban prime minister, a joint commission made up of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Interior Ministry, and the Taliban intelligence agency had been tasked with reviewing the report’s findings.
According to the Taliban, the allegations in the report — including revenge attacks, torture and arbitrary detention — are “without evidence.” The ministry claimed that UNAMA’s sample selection was “limited and biased” and that “many of the allegations were presented without evidence and based solely on assumptions.”
Taliban did not specify which UNAMA officials were summoned or what was discussed in the meeting.
UNAMA’s quarterly report, covering April to June, said deportees — especially women, former security personnel, ex-government employees and journalists — face serious risks of torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights violations under Taliban rule.
The report also said the Taliban have tightened enforcement of their interpretation of hijab requirements for women in parts of the country. Some women interviewed by Amu TV described being denied access to clinics, markets, government offices and even taxi services if they were unaccompanied by a male guardian — orders that sources had previously confirmed to Amu.
In addition, some beauticians told Amu the Taliban have not only shut down beauty salons but pressured their families to sign commitments preventing them from working. Others said Taliban officers had inspected their mobile phones.
UNAMA did not respond to Amu’s request for comment on the Taliban summons.
