The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on Friday urged the Taliban to allow human rights worker to probe a recent mortar attack in Sangin district.

“We call on the Taliban to pave the way for an investigation by the workers of the human rights commission, because the area is under Taliban control,” said Zabiullah Farhang, head of the media department of the human rights commission.

This comes after at least 28 civilians were killed and 34 more wounded after four mortar rounds hit a festival being held at a market in Sangin district in Helmand province on Monday morning.

The UN mission in Afghanistan has stated that based on its "initial" and “impartial” findings, the Afghan National Army mortars inflicted heavy civilian casualties Monday at a market in Sangin and that "multiple credible sources assert that the army fired lethal mortars in response to Taliban fire, missing intended target."

“This incident is not justifiable, the blood of one human being has the value of the entire world, but tens of people were martyred and wounded in there, this is very concerning,” said Daud Naseri, a member of parliament.

The incident happened in a Taliban-controlled area.

The commander of 215 Maiwand Army Corps said that the Afghan security forces weren’t involved in the attack.

“As I said on the first day, I am ready for an investigation before any organ, they have not carried out any kind of assessment,” said Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, the commander of 215 Maiwand Army Corps.

The Taliban have claimed that the attack was carried out by the Afghan army.

The incident happened on Monday morning when the locals were busy attending a local festival in a market in Sangin district – a district that has witnessed heavy clashes between government forces and the Taliban over the last 18 years.