HRW expresses concern over deteriorating human rights condition in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's human rights situation has degenerated in key areas in 2013, increasing uncertainty about the country's future, Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2014 revealed.

Government policies on human rights were negatively affected by the end-2014 deadline for the withdrawal of international combat forces and the negotiations over US troop presence after 2014, HRW said.

HRW said that the Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai made a series of decisions in 2013 that undermined human rights, particularly those of women and girl.

Taliban insurgents continued their campaign of targeted assassinations of government officials, including women.

According to the report, the opponents of women's rights took advantage of waning international interest in Afghanistan to begin rolling back the progress made since the end of Taliban rule in 2001.

Security is of key concern in the run-up to the presidential election planned in April 2014, having a particularly harmful effect on the participation of women who already have a severely limited role in Afghan political life, HRW said.