Kabul [Afghanistan], August 4 (ANI): Afghanistan security forces have killed nearly 274 Taliban terrorists and wounded around 119 in multiple provinces of the country in the past 24 hours.
The operations took place in several provinces including Nangarhar, Kandahar, Farah, Herat, Helmand, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan.
“Nearly 274 Taliban terrorists were killed and 119 were wounded as a result of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) operations in Nangarhar, Logar, Kandahar, Farah, Herat, Jowzjan, Balkh, Samangan, Faryab, Sar-e Pol, Helmand, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Kapisa & Kabul provinces during the last 24 hours,” Afghanistan‘s Defence Ministry tweeted.

An independent human rights organisation has said that Taliban forces advancing in Ghazni, Kandahar, and other Afghan provinces have summarily executed detained soldiers, police, and civilians with alleged ties to the Afghan government.
In a report released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) informed that residents from various provinces told HRW that Taliban forces in areas they enter, apparently identify residents who worked for the Afghan National Security Forces.
This comes amid heavy clashes between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities. Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified their offensive against civilians and Afghan security forces with the complete pullback of foreign forces less than a month away.

50 Taliban terrorists killed in Afghan air force strikes in Ghazni province

At least 50 Taliban terrorists were killed in airstrikes conducted by the Afghan Air Force (AAF) in Andar district of the country’s Ghazni province on Wednesday morning, informed the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry also said that the air force also destroyed 12 vehicles along with a large number of their weapons, ammunition and equipment.
“50 Taliban terrorists were killed in airstrikes conducted by AAF in Andar district of Ghazni province, late morning today. Also, 12 vehicles, a large amount of their weapons, amos and equipment were destroyed,” it said in a tweet.
Apart from that over 10 Taliban terrorists including five of their prominent commanders were also killed and seven others were injured in an operation conducted by Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in Andkhoy district of the country’s Faryab province on Tuesday night.

The security forces were also destroyed two of their vehicles packed with explosives, as per the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense.
“13 Taliban terrorists including 5 of their prominent commanders were killed and 7 others were wounded in an operation conducted by ANDSF in Andkhoy district of Faryab province, last night. Also, 2 of their vehicles packed with explosives were destroyed.” it tweeted.
These airstrikes come as Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.
Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan including Takhar, the country’s northeastern province.
Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban.

Taliban killed ‘possibly 800-900 people’ in Kandahar, says ex-police chief of Afghanistan province

Taliban has killed around 900 people in Afghanistan‘s Kandahar province in the past month and a half, a former police chief of province Tadin Khan said on Wednesday.
Khan, who is also a member of the High Council of the National Reconciliation (HCNR) has said “the Taliban group does not believe in human rights”, reported TOLO News.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement saying that Taliban forces that are advancing in Ghazni, Kandahar, and other Afghan provinces have summarily executed detained soldiers, police, and civilians with alleged ties to the Afghan government.
“Summarily executing anyone in custody, whether a civilian or combatant, is a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime,” said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director. “Taliban commanders with oversight over such atrocities are also responsible for war crimes.”
The Taliban denied the allegations, it reported further.

According to Tadin Khan, the Taliban forcefully took these 900 people from their homes and killed them.
“They possibly martyred 800 to 900 people in the past month and a half. The people have suffered enormously. The brutality that occurred in Boldak (Spin Boldak district of Kandahar) is unforgivable,” said Tadin Khan.
The HRW statement also said: “Human Rights Watch obtained a list of 44 men from Spin Boldak, Kandahar, whom the Taliban have allegedly killed since July 16. All had registered with the Taliban before being summarily executed. Waheedullah, a police commander from Spin Boldak, had obtained a ‘forgiveness’ letter from the Taliban, but Taliban fighters took him from his house and executed him on August 2, activists and media monitoring these detentions in Kandahar said.”
“The civilians who have worked with the government should not be targeted, it is a war crime and a violation of human rights,” said Shahrzad Akbar, the head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).
According to the HRW report, the Taliban after taking over the center of Malistan district in Ghazni province began searching house to house “apparently to identify residents who had worked for the provincial or district government or security forces.” The Taliban “took into custody dozens of residents, some of whom were later released after being compelled to provide assurances they would not cooperate with the government,” said Human Rights Watch, adding that the organization “could not confirm the status or whereabouts of those not released.” TOLO News reported further.
Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan.
Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban. (ANI)

Blinken says Taliban won’t be recognised until they stop ongoing atrocities

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that the Taliban’s demands from the International community will not be accepted until they stop the ongoing violation.
He also said that the terrorist group will not be recognized either, Khaama Press reported.
“Taliban are demanding their leaders’ names to be taken out of the black list and ultimately do visits to other countries around the world which he believes will not be logical and pragmatic with the current level of violation by the group,” he said during the announcement of the US new program-Program2- for resettling Afghans who have worked for the United States government beyond interpreters and translators.
The US expresses concern over crimes by the Taliban days after the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in a statement cited its investigation over the alleged massacre by the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
As per the investigation, the Taliban have killed over 40 former and current officials of the Afghan government, as per Khaama Press.
On Tuesday, Afghanistan‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanif Atmar while calling upon the international community said that press releases are not sufficient, they should give the Taliban a serious response in upcoming Doha meetings.
During a meeting with the ambassadors and representatives of regional and international countries including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and European Union, he said: “press releases do not suffice but the International community should give the Taliban a serious response in upcoming Doha meetings.” reported Khaama Press.
The twin gatherings hosted by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs were attended by over thirty ambassadors and representatives, Khaama Press reported further.
Heavy clashes are taking place between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities. Aghan forces battled the Taliban in Lashkar Gah as the fighting intensified in the city in southern Helmand province and the frontline was in District 1 where the US conducted an airstrike on Monday morning.
Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan including Takhar, the country’s northeastern province.
Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban. (ANI)