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| Protesters in Afghanistan, Carrying Coffins, Demand Greater Security | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — Braving persistent rain in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, thousands of protesters carried the coffins of seven ethnic Hazara civilians beheaded in the south of the country to the presidential palace while demanding greater security and an end to a wave of targeted violence. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Braving persistent rain in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, thousands of protesters carried the coffins of seven ethnic Hazara civilians beheaded in the south of the country to the presidential palace while demanding greater security and an end to a wave of targeted violence. |
| The protesters — whose numbers are unprecedented in Afghanistan in recent years — shouted slogans including “Death to the Taliban” and “Death to the Islamic State.” They accused President Ashraf Ghani of incompetence in the face of deteriorating security and called for the resignation of his coalition government. | The protesters — whose numbers are unprecedented in Afghanistan in recent years — shouted slogans including “Death to the Taliban” and “Death to the Islamic State.” They accused President Ashraf Ghani of incompetence in the face of deteriorating security and called for the resignation of his coalition government. |
| “For too long, we have been buried in silence,” said Mohamad Ishaq Mowahidi, one of the protest organizers. “The logical way is for us to submit the coffins as a gift to the government.” | “For too long, we have been buried in silence,” said Mohamad Ishaq Mowahidi, one of the protest organizers. “The logical way is for us to submit the coffins as a gift to the government.” |
| Mr. Ghani’s administration, formed after an election stalemate last year, has struggled in the face of mounting Taliban attacks across the country and the emergence of new breakaway factions and foreign militant groups pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Of particular concern to many of the marchers were the abductions of groups of travelers from the persecuted Hazara minority by militants in the south of the country in recent months. | Mr. Ghani’s administration, formed after an election stalemate last year, has struggled in the face of mounting Taliban attacks across the country and the emergence of new breakaway factions and foreign militant groups pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Of particular concern to many of the marchers were the abductions of groups of travelers from the persecuted Hazara minority by militants in the south of the country in recent months. |
| While the splinter groups, who officials say beheaded the seven Hazaras in Zabul Province last week, have little coordination with the Islamic State organization operating in Syria and Iraq, they have displayed similarly cruel tactics on the battlefield in Afghanistan. This fall, they blew up 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan and filmed the act on video. | While the splinter groups, who officials say beheaded the seven Hazaras in Zabul Province last week, have little coordination with the Islamic State organization operating in Syria and Iraq, they have displayed similarly cruel tactics on the battlefield in Afghanistan. This fall, they blew up 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan and filmed the act on video. |
| The Hazara civilians were abducted over a month ago as they were traveling through Zabul to return to their homes in the district of Jaghori in Ghazni Province. Their bodies were found on Saturday after Taliban forces defeated militants loyal to the Islamic State, whom they see as a rival force intruding on their turf. | The Hazara civilians were abducted over a month ago as they were traveling through Zabul to return to their homes in the district of Jaghori in Ghazni Province. Their bodies were found on Saturday after Taliban forces defeated militants loyal to the Islamic State, whom they see as a rival force intruding on their turf. |
| The beheadings, including that of a 9-year-old girl whose throat was slit with metal wire, have raised concerns that sectarian violence targeting Hazaras, with its long history across the border in Pakistan, may be spreading to Afghanistan. | The beheadings, including that of a 9-year-old girl whose throat was slit with metal wire, have raised concerns that sectarian violence targeting Hazaras, with its long history across the border in Pakistan, may be spreading to Afghanistan. |
| Many in Afghanistan, including senior government officials, fear that some of the extremist groups in Pakistan have been pushed into Afghanistan after the Pakistani military carried out operations in tribal areas this year. | Many in Afghanistan, including senior government officials, fear that some of the extremist groups in Pakistan have been pushed into Afghanistan after the Pakistani military carried out operations in tribal areas this year. |
| The United Nations has condemned the beheadings as abhorrent. | The United Nations has condemned the beheadings as abhorrent. |
| “These senseless murders may amount to war crimes, and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations secretary general’s special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement. | “These senseless murders may amount to war crimes, and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations secretary general’s special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement. |