Since April 1992 when the Mujahideen forces took control of Kabul and other major cities in Afghanistan, thousands of civilians have become the target of attacks in residential areas. Hundreds of people have been killed by armed political groups during raids on civilian homes. All factions have committed rape and used other forms of torture. There have also been thousands of “disappearances” after abduction by armed guards in all parts of the country. AI urges the transitional government authorities and the leaders of the warring factions in Afghanistan to respect and commit themselves to the implemenation of humanitarian law. They should also tell the truth about human rights abuses, exercise effective control to prevent abuses and end deliberate and arbitrary killings and clarify the fate of unacknowledged detainees.
