ICBL Condemns Taliban Mine-Laying in Pakistan
“The humanitarian situation in northwest Pakistan is already extremely tense and the civilians are struggling to protect themselves and their families. We are appalled that recently laid landmines come as an additional threat in the region,”said Raza Shah Khan, Director of the Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO), ICBL member in Pakistan.
“Not only does landmine use pose an immediate and direct menace to civilians, but it will also have long-term consequences on these populations.”
IBCL member Human Rights Watch has been conducting investigations into violations of humanitarian law in the Swat Valley, including use of human shields and indiscriminate use of artillery.
“The Taliban’s use of landmines and human shields is a sorry addition to their long list of abuses in the Swat Valley,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “They urgently need to let civilians leave areas of fighting.”
To learn more about the landmine situation in Pakistan, click here.
