FAIZABAD (SW) – The provincial office of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in Badakhshan has expressed concerns over presence of minors in the ranks among militants in the in the province.
Arifa Navid, head of the provincial office of the AIHRC in Badakhshan, said that during their monitoring in Baharak, Jurm, Warduj, Yamgan and several other districts in the province, they found that the parties to the conflict were using children as soldiers.
According to him, the parties involved are using children as soldiers without regard and respect for human rights values. He says the children who should go to schools have been given guns and sent to the battlefield.
The head of the provincial office of the AIHRC said that they have repeatedly shared reports about the presence of children in militant groups with local officials in the province, but have not received a response.
Badakhshan security officials acknowledge the presence of children alongside irresponsible gunmen, but say the process of recruiting minors into security agencies has been curbed. Badakhshan provincial police spokesman Sanaullah Rouhani said recruiting minors into the security forces remains illegal and this is strictly ensured.
Rouhani said there are no minors in the ranks of the security forces, especially the police.
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