More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, a United Nations report released on Tuesday shows.

In total, the UN diplomatic mission in Afghanistan recorded 1,095 deaths and 2,679 injuries for the period between mid-August 2021 and the end of May 2023.

According to the UN, the number of casualties has fallen sharply compared with the period before the Taliban seized power.

In 2020, the UN reported 3,035 civilians killed and 5,785 wounded.

At the time, the Taliban militants were fighting the Western-backed government in Kabul.

The so-called Islamic State (IS) extremist group also carried out attacks in the conflict-ridden country to this day.

The leading cause of harm was IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in populated areas, including places of worship, schools and markets, the report said.

“These attacks on civilians and civilian objects are reprehensible and must stop,” said Fiona Frazer, chief of UNAMA’s Human Rights Service.

“It is critical that the de facto authorities uphold their obligation to protect the right to life by carrying out independent, impartial, prompt, thorough, effective, credible and transparent investigations into IED attacks affecting civilians.”

UNAMA is the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

In response, the Taliban Foreign Ministry said the group took over when Afghanistan was on the verge of collapse.

He said the Taliban managed to rescue the country and government from a crisis by making sound decisions and proper management.

Inspite of initial promises, the Taliban had curtailed human rights, such as banning women and girls’ access to education beyond primary school since their return to power.

No country in the world has recognised the group’s de facto government so far.

(dpa/NAN)