21 August, 2017
"UNAMA verified allegations that Taliban and local self-proclaimed Islamic State (Daesh) fighters killed at least 36 persons, including civilians and person hors de combat (out of action) during the attack on Mirza Olang".
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed on Sunday the killing of 36 civilians by militants in Afghanistan's northern Mirza Olang village in early August.
"These killings, corroborated by multiple credible sources, constitute violations of global humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes", UNAMA said in its report.
It added that more than half of the killings took place on Saturday 5 August when civilians tried to flee the village after militants had captured it following a battle with a government-backed militia.
The militants set fire to several mosques, torched at least 30 houses, beheaded a number of villagers and shot dozens of others dead, officials said.
But Haseebullah Stanikzai, a member of the provincial council, said both Taliban and security forces were responsible for civilian deaths in Logar.
Those among the killed were six insurgent's local commanders and the security forces also defused 20 landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) besides seizing several militants' motorcycles and one round of mortar, said Rahmani.
At the time, Afghan officials announced that over 60 people had lost their lives in the brutal killing carried out by Taliban and Daesh in a rare joint operation between the two rival terrorist groups.
A spokesman for the Taliban called the United Nations report "baseless allegations" and "false claims". The report said it was unable to verify reports of sexual violence, and did not find evidence to support claims that numerous victims were beheaded.
Heavy clashes are underway between the anti-government armed militants and the Afghan security forces near the district administrative center in Khamab district of Jawzjan province.
The security forces cleared the valley five days after the attack but insurgents reportedly regained control of the area a day after the operation.
