In reaction to a video of a mass grave and human remains in Kandahar, the UN rapporteur for Afghanistan’s human rights Richard Bennett said that it is “important these remains are not disturbed and damaged further pending forensic examination, while being sensitive to needs of families.”

The deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said that the grave site and human remains are from eight years ago and that investigations are underway in this regard.

The video shows the residents of Spin Boldak exhuming sixteen bodies.

“The residents of Spink Boldak of Kandahar discovered this grave while they were digging a well. The history of the grave goes back eight years, when the former government was in power. Our investigation has been continuing in this regard,” Karimi said.

Family members of victims of the past 20 years called for justice to be followed.

“We want justice. The perpetrators of such crimes should be held accountable,” said Abdul Rahim, brother of the victim.

“We call on the Islamic Emirate and international community to neutrally investigate the war crimes and hold the criminals accountable,” said a resident of Uruzgan.

“There were a lot of crimes that happened over the past 40 years of war,” said a resident of Uruzgan.