UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has received 鈥渃redible allegations鈥� that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took over the country Aug. 15, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says.
In a report obtained Sunday by The Associated Press, Guterres said that 鈥渕ore than two-thirds鈥� of the victims were alleged to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates, despite the Taliban鈥檚 announcement of 鈥済eneral amnesties鈥� for those affiliated with the former government and US-led coalition forces.
The UN political mission in Afghanistan also received 鈥渃redible allegations of extrajudicial killings of at least 50 individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIL-KP,鈥� the Daesh or Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan, Guterres said in the report to UN Security Council.
He added that despite Taliban assurances, the UN political mission has also received credible allegations 鈥渙f enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity鈥� of former government and coalition members.
Guterres said human rights defenders and media workers also continue 鈥渢o come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings.鈥�
Eight civil society activists were killed, including three by the Taliban and three by Islamic State extremists, and 10 were subjected to temporary arrests, beatings and threats by the Taliban, he said. Two journalists were killed 鈥� one by IS 鈥� and two were injured by unknown armed men.
The secretary-general said the UN missions documented 44 cases of temporary arrests, beatings and threats of intimidation, 42 of them by the Taliban.
The Taliban overran most of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. They entered Kabul on Aug. 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country鈥檚 president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.
The Taliban initially promised a general amnesty for those linked to the former government and international forces, and tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities. However, the Taliban have renewed restrictions on women and appointed an all-male government, which have met with dismay by the international community.
Afghanistan鈥檚 aid-dependent economy was already stumbling when the Taliban seized power, and the international community froze Afghanistan鈥檚 assets abroad and halted economic support, recalling the Taliban鈥檚 reputation for brutality during its 1996-2001 rule and refusal to educate girls and allow women to work.
Guterres said: 鈥淭he situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and uncertain six months after the Taliban takeover as the multiple political, socio-economic and humanitarian shocks reverberate across the country.鈥�

He said Afghanistan today faces multiple crises: a growing humanitarian emergency, a massive economic contraction, the crippling of its banking and financial systems, the worst drought in 27 years, and the Taliban鈥檚 failure to form an inclusive government and restore the rights of girls to education and women to work.
鈥淎n estimated 22.8 million people are projected to be in `crisis鈥� and `emergency鈥� levels of food insecurity until March 2022,鈥� the UN chief said. 鈥淎lmost 9 million of these will be at `emergency鈥� levels of food insecurity -鈥� the highest number in the world. Half of all children under five are facing acute malnutrition.鈥�
On a positive note, Guterres reported 鈥渁 significant decline鈥� in the overall number of conflict-related security incidents as well as civilian casualties since the Taliban takeover. The UN recorded 985 security-related incidents between Aug. 19 and Dec. 31, a 91 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2020, he said.
The eastern, central, southern and western regions accounted for 75 percent of all recorded incidents, he said, with Nangarhar, Kabul, Kunar and Kandahar ranking as the most conflict-affected provinces.
Despite the reduction in violence, Guterres said the Taliban face several challenges, including rising attacks against their members.
鈥淪ome are attributed to the National Resistance Front comprising some Afghan opposition figures, and those associated with the former government,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese groups have been primarily operating in Panjshir Province and Baghlan鈥檚 Andarab District but have not made significant territorial inroads鈥� though 鈥渁rmed clashes are regularly documented, along with forced displacement and communication outages.鈥�
Guterres said intra-Taliban tensions along ethnic lines and competition over jobs have also resulted in violence, pointing to armed clashes on Nov. 4 between between Taliban forces in Bamyan city.
In the report, the secretary-general proposed priorities for the UN political mission in the current environment, urged international support to prevent widespread hunger and the country鈥檚 economic collapse, and urged the Taliban to guarantee women鈥檚 rights and human rights.