Taliban Detains & Tortures Former Afghan Army Officer In Kabul
A former Afghan army officer has alleged that he was severely beaten and tortured by Taliban forces in Kabul, showing visible marks of whipping and bruising on his body.
A former Afghan army officer has alleged that he was severely beaten and tortured by Taliban forces in Kabul, showing visible marks of whipping and bruising on his body.
Speaking to Afghanistan International on Tuesday, the officer—who requested anonymity for security reasons—said he was arrested on 5 January in the district 5 of Kabul and released days later on bail. During his detention, he claimed he was subjected to severe physical abuse.
Fear and Threats Against Former Security Personnel
The army personnel stated that he lives in constant fear and anxiety, emphasising that all former military personnel remain at risk under the Taliban regime. He accused the Taliban of killing, imprisoning, and torturing many of his fellow servicemen.
Appealing to international organisations, including the United Nations and human rights groups, he urged them to address the plight of former Afghan security personnel. Additionally, he criticised leaders of Afghanistan’s former government, accusing them of abandoning the country and leaving ex-military members in dire conditions.
He also called on Western nations, which were allies of Afghanistan’s former government, to honour their commitments to former Afghan soldiers.
Reports of Abuse and Taliban Denials
In recent years, international organisations, including the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), have repeatedly reported on the detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings of former security forces. UNAMA recently stated that it has documented cases of murder and torture against these individuals.
Despite these reports, the Taliban continues to deny any wrongdoing, claiming that all former security personnel were granted general amnesty and face no threats. However, evidence suggests that in the past three and a half years, thousands of former soldiers and officials have been detained by the Taliban for various reasons.
