Statement on the UNAMA Report Regarding Attribution of Civilian Casualties to Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF)
1 May 2025
The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) values the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country. Such documentation is essential for promoting accountability and justice. However, the AFF expresses serious concern regarding the recent UNAMA quarterly report’s treatment of the January 18, 2025 incident in Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan Province.
According to the report, a hand grenade attack attributed to the AFF caused one civilian death and injured 18 others. This claim, however, is inconsistent with verified operational data and AFF’s official statement. The operation in question specifically targeted a convoy of Taliban intelligence vehicles. As confirmed by AFF intelligence, the attack resulted in the deaths of four Taliban members and injuries to two others, with no harm to civilians.
The AFF strongly objects to the manner in which responsibility for civilian harm has been assigned in the report. This attribution was made without citing independent and verifiable evidence, without a transparent fact-finding process, and without providing the AFF an opportunity to respond—practices that fall short of international standards for human rights reporting. Such an approach contravenes key principles outlined by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1.
The report also lacks transparency in terms of methodology, including how evidence was gathered and what sources were used. It fails to acknowledge any investigative limitations. These omissions risk undermining the credibility of the report and may lead to misperceptions among the public. Relying on unverified, anonymous sources without corroboration is inconsistent with the best practices followed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN fact-finding missions.
Furthermore, the AFF’s perspective was excluded from the report, and the broader political context—including the Taliban’s restrictions on media freedom and access to information—was not addressed. This raises concerns about possible political bias, which runs counter to the principles of impartiality and neutrality enshrined in UN documents such as Resolution 46/182 and the 1991 Declaration on Fact-Finding.
Assigning blame without due process also undermines the principle of the presumption of innocence and violates Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the reputation and dignity of individuals and organizations.
Moreover, the report does not acknowledge the AFF’s foundational legal and ethical commitments. The Charter of Freedom of Afghanistan affirms the AFF’s adherence to the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, key international human rights treaties, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and international humanitarian law. Articles 9 and 13 of the AFF Charter explicitly uphold humanitarian principles in all military operations. Failure to reflect these commitments compromises the report’s objectivity and thoroughness, in contradiction to Article 11(c) of UN Resolution 5/1.
In light of the above, the AFF respectfully requests that UNAMA:
- Amend the report on the January 18, 2025 incident in Baghlan Province to reflect the facts on the ground and AFF’s official denial of civilian casualties.
- Refrain from assigning responsibility in future reports without independent, verifiable sources and without offering implicated parties a chance to respond.
- Ensure transparency regarding investigative methodologies and sources used in future reports.
- Uphold inclusivity and neutrality by allowing all parties to present their accounts.
- Disclose investigative limitations and challenges clearly within published reports.
- Adhere strictly to UN principles of independence and impartiality, avoiding any form of political bias.
- Respect the rights to dignity and reputation, as guaranteed by Article 17 of the ICCPR, by avoiding unsubstantiated allegations.
- Acknowledge the AFF’s legal and ethical commitments, including its adherence to humanitarian principles as set out in Articles 9 and 13 of its Charter, when referencing the organization in reports.
The AFF remains committed to the principles of international law and humanitarian norms. We urge UNAMA to revise the current report accordingly and to apply internationally recognized standards in its future reporting.
The End.
