Amid the peace efforts, the recent surge in roadside bombings and civilian deaths has left rights groups concerned.
“We are deeply concerned by the increase of roadside bomb blasts that continue to threaten the lives of innocent children,” said Milan Dinic, Country Director for Save the Children in Afghanistan.
His comments came after a mini-bus struck a roadside bomb in Ghazni’s Jaghato district on July 11, which seriously injured three children and killed at least six civilians.
“This was the latest in a growing number of targeted attacks against civilians.”
Dinic called the past few month “some of the deadliest in recent times” and called for the attacks on civilians, and especially children, to stop.
“It is time to stop this war on children. For the sake of all Afghan children and the future of Afghanistan, the warring parties must do everything in their power to stop killing and maiming children during this terrible conflict.”
He pointed that the country should be focusing on the COVID-19 outbreak but with civilians under constant attack, “how can people protect themselves against the pandemic”, he questioned.
“Save the Children strongly condemns the attack and is gravely concerned by the increase in violence as the year progresses. This war on children needs to stop now,” the country head said.
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission also said, “The humanitarian rights of civilians are not respected [in Afghanistan].”
