ISLAMABAD — Amnesty International has documented war crimes and atrocities committed during the collapse of the internationally backed Afghan government to the Islamist Taliban in August.
According to a report being released Wednesday, the Taliban, the U.S. military and Afghan security forces were all responsible for attacks that resulted in extensive civilian suffering before the full collapse of the country to the Taliban.
The report documents torture, extrajudicial executions and killings by the Taliban during the final stages of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as civilian casualties during a series of ground and air operations by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and U.S. military forces.
"Homes, hospitals, schools and shops were turned into crime scenes as people were repeatedly killed and injured," said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's secretary-general.
Callamard called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate all possible war crimes, "no matter where it leads."
The United Nations in Afghanistan reported that 1,659 civilians were killed and another 3,524 injured in the first six months of 2021, an increase of 47% from the prior year.
In the report, the Taliban is accused of torturing and killing ethnic and religious minorities as well as former Afghan security forces during the seizure of new cities.
Victims spoke of atrocities committed by the insurgents in at least two districts of Panjshir province, as well as in Spin Boldak of Kandahar province.
In one instance, at least six civilians were executed in a village in Panjshir, mainly by gunshots to the head, chest or heart.
"Such killings constitute war crimes," the report states.
The report also documents four airstrikes carried out by the U.S. and Afghan air forces in recent years, killing 28 civilians and wounding another six.
On Aug. 29, a U.S. drone strike killed 10 civilians, including seven children. The Pentagon later admitted that civilians were targeted and announced that those responsible would not have to expect a punishment.
At least a dozen civilians have been killed by mortar attacks launched by Afghan forces.
Amnesty International is calling on the Taliban and the U.S. government to fulfill their international obligations, and establish clear and robust mechanisms for civilians to request reparations for harm sustained during the conflict.
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