New York: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday, horrifying reports have emerged that the Taliban have severely restricted the rights of Afghan women and girls in areas they have seized.

The Taliban have come closer to Kabul and full control of Afghanistan, fueling fears of a return to their brutal regime that was toppled by the US led 2001 invasion. Speaking to the media persons Guterres said that he is deeply disturbed by early indications that that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions on human rights in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.

He warned that directing attacks against civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime. Security forces in Afghanistan have capitulated on fronts, with individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions surrendering and handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.