Page "Mazar-i-Sharif" Paragraph 12

Small scale clashes between militias belonging to different commanders persisted throughout 2002, and were the focus of intensive UN peace-brokering and small arms disarmament programme.

After some pressure, an office of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission opened an office in Mazar in April 2003.

There were also reports about northern Pashtun civilians being ethnic cleansed by the other groups, mainly by ethnic Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.