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Afghanistan
MoD Says Clashes in Balkhab Have Ended
2022-06-28
[ToloNews] Following reports of festivities between the Islamic Emirate forces and Commander Mawlawi Mahdi in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul
...a city and eponymous province in northern Afghanistan, population about 500,000. Demographically it is majority Tadjik and Uzbek. There are small Pashtun, Arab, and Hazara communities, of which the Hazaras mostly don't bother anyone...
, the MoD stated that the dispute has ended.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wrecked scow, Agent 49 felt gingerly for his head. It was still there. He had been hoping differently...
in a meeting with Shia holy mans and elders of Balkhab, 2nd Deputy PM Abdul Salam Hanafi stressed the importance of preventing civilian casualties in Balkhab.

Amnesia Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan human rights
...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedom at the convenience of the state...
reacted to the festivities in Balkhab and called for the prevention of civilian casualties.

In the meantime, an online campaign was launched by social media users calling for international organizations to support citizens in Balkhab.

The videos being circulated on social media show a Islamic Emirate’s forces’ military convoy heading towards Balkhab.

"It is better for them to enforce a law which is acceptable for the international community," said Asadullah Nadim, a political analyst.

"It is better that the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
turn their hands away from violence and accept that others are also Afghans and have the right to live and work," Nadim said.

The Ministry of Defense said that the Islamic Emirate has not suffered any casualties in the festivities in Balkhab.

"The policy of the Islamic Emirate is to not take any stand against the citizens. (The Islamic Emirate) wants all Afghans to live together and to not allow anyone to create sedition in the nation," Hanafi was quoted on Twitter of the ARG.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wrecked scow, Agent 49 felt gingerly for his head. It was still there. He had been hoping differently...
residents of provinces in neighboring Sar-e-Pul expressed concerns over the possible surge of insecurity in their provinces.

"We hope to find a solution and that the violence will not be extended and the voice of everyone will be heard," said Raziq, a resident of Bamiyan
...a place in Afghanistan that used to have some historically interesting statues of the Buddha carved into a mountainside. Then the holy men showed up and now all they have is some big holes...
"A surge in violence and insecurity has caused further damages to the residents of central areas and we hope this issue will be considered," said Massoud Ekhtiarai, a resident of Daikundi.

The festivities in Balkhab faced reactions from international human rights organizations.

"Amnesia Amnesty International is gravely concerned by reports of summary executions and harm to civilians in Balkhab district of Sari-Pul province," Amnesia Amnesty International said on Twitter. "The parties to the conflict are obliged to fully observe laws of war in all hostilities and avoid harming civilians and civilian objects."
Related:
Mawlawi Mahdi: 2022-06-24 Taliban’s Highest-Ranking Army Officer Heads to Northern Afghanistan; Clash Between the Taliban and Mawlawi Mujahid Possible at ‘Any Moment’
Related:
Balkhab district: 2022-06-24 Taliban’s Highest-Ranking Army Officer Heads to Northern Afghanistan; Clash Between the Taliban and Mawlawi Mujahid Possible at ‘Any Moment’
Balkhab district: 2020-10-07 125 Taliban Join Peace Process in Balkh: Army Corps
Balkhab district: 2019-03-01 Afghan forces conduct 4 joint operations, 69 Special Operations, 18 airstrikes: MoD
Posted by:trailing wife

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