Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed concern over Pakistan’s airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, calling on the parties involved to exercise “maximum restraint.”
In a post on X on Monday, February 23, Bennett urged both Pakistan and the Taliban to protect civilians and adhere to international law.
“I am deeply concerned by reports indicating that a significant number of children and civilians have been killed following the resumption of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said.
His remarks come as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed in a statement that 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, has said that Pakistan’s airstrikes on “terrorist” hideouts in Afghanistan are Islamabad’s inherent right.
