More than 20 countries condemn Taliban in connection with killings of former Afghan security forces

More than 20 countries condemn the Taliban in connection with the killings of former Afghan security forcesRihards Plūme00:00 / 03:54

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Both before and after the takeover of power in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s radical Islamist movement offered a “general amnesty” to all members of the previous government’s forces. However, many did not believe it and reports soon that it was not being fully respected.

A 25-page report published this week by Human Rights Watch documents the killing or disappearance of former Afghan army, police, intelligence and pro-government officials.

The organization gathered evidence of Taliban officials who were surrendered or detained between 15 August and 15 October. The organization said the Taliban had gained access to lists of former government employees and used them to identify people before they were detained or killed. The NGO said it had obtained reliable information on more than 100 murders or enforced disappearances.

The US State Department has issued a statement expressing the deep concern of more than 20 countries over reports of the killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces, as documented by a human rights organization and others. The statement emphasized that the allegations were serious human rights violations and contradicted the Taliban’s amnesty. States call on Afghanistan’s new leaders to enforce and support the amnesty throughout the country and across the Taliban.

The statement states that allegations must be investigated swiftly and transparently, those responsible must be brought to justice, and these steps must be clearly publicized as an immediate deterrent to further killings.

States have emphasized that they will continue to judge the Taliban for their actions.

Meanwhile, analyst and journalist Ahmed Rashid is not optimistic: “The Taliban are very proud of their judicial system, which is very simple and not accepted in the West, but is very efficient. And I do not see any way in which the Taliban condemn one of their militants. Unfortunately, we have already seen problems inside and under the Taliban, and they do not intend to try one, two or ten of their militants who may have carried out the killings.

Concerns about women’s rights in Afghanistan remain. True, the Taliban issued a call this week to respect certain women’s rights, urging organizations, Islamic theologians and community elders to take serious steps to ensure that those rights are respected. For example, an unmarried woman or widow will not be forced to marry, and widows will also be entitled to inheritance as well as bridal gifts if they remarry. However, the new decree makes no mention of women’s right to education or employment. Many women’s rights have been severely curtailed by the Taliban since coming to power. In many cases, women cannot return to work. Most girls’ high schools are closed. Women’s protests are being violently suppressed. Many have fled.

According to information gathered by the European Asylum Support Office, the number of asylum applications from Afghanistan has risen sharply in Europe. More than 17,000 Afghans have applied for asylum in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland in September this year, up 72% from the previous month.

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