UN says nearly 500 Afghan civilians killed in Pakistan-Afghanistan fighting since October
Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has killed 499 civilians and wounded 1,216 others in Afghanistan between October and the end of June, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The figures were included in a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, on the human rights situation in the country.
In one incident, the report said, civilians trying to rescue people from the rubble of an airstrike were hit by a second strike. The incident occurred on June 28 in eastern Paktia province, where 22 people, including five children, were killed and at least 185 others were wounded.
Most of the casualties were caused by the second strike, when local residents were attempting to rescue victims of the first, according to the report.
"International humanitarian law provides special protections for medical personnel and humanitarian workers, including first responders. Attacks against them while performing their duties are strictly prohibited," Fiona Frazer, director of human rights at UNAMA, said.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fighting intermittently for months, with tensions escalating sharply in February after Afghan forces launched a raid into Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants, including the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Islamabad blames for deadly attacks in the country. The Afghan Taliban government denies the allegation.
In a written response to the UNAMA report, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the Taliban government continues to provide a "permissive environment" for militant organisations.
It said Pakistani military strikes were directed exclusively at "identified terrorist hideouts, sanctuaries, and support infrastructure" linked to groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
The UN report also highlighted other human rights concerns in Afghanistan, including restrictions on women and girls and a crackdown on protests against the Taliban government's dress code.
In June, at least 30 women were arrested in the western city of Herat for alleged violations of the dress code. At least one person was killed and several others injured when authorities opened fire during a rare protest against the detentions.
Women in Afghanistan face restrictions including a ban on education beyond primary school, strict dress requirements and limits on employment. They are also required to be accompanied by a male relative in public in many circumstances.
The report further said new rules governing marriage "implicitly sanction child marriage" by allowing marriage contracts to be arranged for minors.
