United Nations top human rights officer, Louise Arbour in a meeting on Nov. 20 in the Palace in Kabul praised President Hamid Karzai’s firm stance against civilian casualties during anti-terrorism military operations and called him a “true defendant” of the rights of people.

Ms. Arbour said she urged NATO-led ISAF commander in a meeting in Kabul to exercise necessary caution so that civilian lives are protected during military operations.

President Karzai said Afghanistan is fully committed to all international human rights standards, and is constitutionally obliged to respect rights of people deprived of freedom in prisons. The government appointed a delegation to find out on the situation of the prisons following a report released by the Human Rights Watch.

The President added that prisoners’ torture is against constitution and all government entities are obliged to act accordingly.

The top human rights commissioner during her five-day visit to Afghanistan met with officials from government and non-government organizations as well as representatives from the civil society and the Afghan parliament.