The decades-long destructive conflict has left deep wounds in Afghanistan, which will continue to afflict Afghan people for several decades to come even if it stops now. The conflict not only has reduced the country’s economic infrastructure to rubble, broken down social contracts and divested Afghans of development and welfare opportunities, but also banned weapons that pose a serious threat to generations have been used in the conflict.
A report reveals that local people are suffering from an illness and that agriculture fields are not yielding crops about two years after the United States dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), also known as the “mother of all bombs”, on a Daesh hideout in the Momand Dara area of Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province. According to the report, the use of the most powerful non-nuclear bomb has caused skin problems to some children and teenagers, with parts of their skin becoming dry and full of irritation and blisters. Locals also allege that trees have dried up and agricultural land has become sterile.
The use of prohibited weapons and explosives that pose constant threat to humans and other living organisms is a brazen violation of international laws and norms, and constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is an inescapable reality that US thinks it is above international laws, but the Afghan government has the responsibility to prevent the use of any kind of weaponry in the country that threatens the lives of the war-stricken people for generations.
The Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Agriculture must technically investigate the effects of the use of MOAB in Achin district, and determine its risks posed to humans and the environment. They are also duty bound to probe the use of arms in other parts of the country as well, and if Americans employ banned weapons, inform the government to stop the savagery.
Afghan government must not welcome any crime committed by American and other foreign troops under the pretext of being an ally of the US in the fight against terrorism. It is the responsibility of government leaders and other politicians to know about the nature and hazards of weapons, and must not allow unconventional weapons to be used in the country. Afghanistan is an ally of US in the war on terror, not an arms testing lab of Washington.