UNITED NATIONS: Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in mid-2021, there have been alarming reports of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations targeting former military personnel, law-enforcement officers, and government officials.
Despite assurances of a “general amnesty” for past adversaries, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) revealed, more than 200 individuals have been killed under circumstances linked to the Taliban’s rule.
In a recent report, UNAMA disclosed that it had documented a minimum of 218 extrajudicial killings that were linked to the Taliban, spanning from their takeover in mid-2021 until June. Shockingly, these killings often followed brief detentions by de facto security forces. The victims included former government officials, members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), and other individuals with ties to the previous administration.
Senior leaders within the Taliban have repeatedly asserted that there exists an amnesty for former government officials and military personnel, as decreed by their supreme leader. However, UNAMA’s findings paint a different picture. The report underscores that many of the documented violations occurred in the months immediately following the Taliban’s ascension to power, particularly during the withdrawal of US-backed foreign forces in August 2021. Additionally, 70 such killings were recorded in 2022.
UNAMA expressed deep concern about the lack of accountability for these human rights violations. The report highlights a paucity of information about actions taken by the de facto authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable. The apparent impunity with which such violations persist raises serious alarm about the safety and rights of former government officials and members of the security forces.
The incidents of human rights violations catalogued by UNAMA extend beyond killings. Arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and instances of torture have also been documented. A substantial portion of these abuses have been directed at former members of the security forces and police, underscoring the vulnerability of this group.
In response to UNAMA’s report, the Taliban-led foreign affairs ministry maintained that their supreme spiritual leader had indeed issued an amnesty order, coupled with an order against the torture or ill-treatment of detainees. They denied allegations of state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings or the targeted victimization of individuals who were associated with the former foreign-backed government. The ministry stated that individuals who had joined opposition groups or engaged in activities contrary to the established system were subjected to arrests and judicial processes.
The concerns raised by UNAMA’s report cast a shadow over the veracity of the proclaimed amnesty and challenge the Taliban’s commitment to upholding human rights and international norms. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation in Afghanistan, hoping for tangible progress in ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of all Afghans, irrespective of their affiliations.
