To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help the Afghan authorities respond effectively to attacks on the Hazara community in Afghanistan and to prevent the occurrence of future attacks.
Answered on
19 December 2018
We have raised concerns following reports of civilian casualties and displacement resulting from recent Taliban attacks in districts predominantly populated by Hazaras. We continue to monitor the situation closely, especially in Ghazni and Uruzgan districts. We understand that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) are working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces.
We urge the Government of Afghanistan to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, including the Hazaras, in line with the Afghan constitution. The UK provides a range of support which aims to enhance the Afghan Government’s ability to protect all Afghan citizens. Through DFID, we have contributed £42 million towards lifesaving humanitarian aid in Afghanistan this year. The UK is also committed to supporting the Afghan Security Forces to ensure their capability continues to improve in order to protect all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan. We contribute to this through the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission.