<p>"Horrifying" reports have emerged that the Taliban have severely restricted the rights of Afghan women and girls in areas they have seized, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday.</p>.<p>The Taliban have been inching closer to Kabul and full control of Afghanistan, fueling fears of a return to their brutal regime that was toppled by the United States-led 2001 invasion.</p>.<p>"I'm... 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," Guterres told reporters.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taliban-near-gates-of-kabul-as-embassies-prepare-for-evacuations-1019611.html" target="_blank">Read | Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations</a></strong></p>.<p>"It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away," he added.</p>.<p>The UN chief warned that "directing attacks against civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime."</p>.<p>Security forces in Afghanistan have capitulated on fronts, with individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions surrendering -- handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.</p>
<p>"Horrifying" reports have emerged that the Taliban have severely restricted the rights of Afghan women and girls in areas they have seized, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday.</p>.<p>The Taliban have been inching closer to Kabul and full control of Afghanistan, fueling fears of a return to their brutal regime that was toppled by the United States-led 2001 invasion.</p>.<p>"I'm... 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," Guterres told reporters.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taliban-near-gates-of-kabul-as-embassies-prepare-for-evacuations-1019611.html" target="_blank">Read | Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations</a></strong></p>.<p>"It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away," he added.</p>.<p>The UN chief warned that "directing attacks against civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime."</p>.<p>Security forces in Afghanistan have capitulated on fronts, with individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions surrendering -- handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.</p>