The Taliban, the Islamist group in Afghanistan, has summoned interpreters working for Dutch forces and threatened their families, Dutch public television NOS reported on Friday.
These interpreters are in hiding, but if they do not appear in court, their family members will be prosecuted “and severely punished so that other traitors have a lesson,” the Taliban said in a letter broadcast by the NOS.
The recipient of such a letter, who had worked for the EU police agency Europol in Afghanistan, was accused of receiving “shameful and forbidden money” from foreigners.
“We will take revenge. If we cannot access you, we will settle accounts with your loved ones,” the letter said to an interpreter accused by the Taliban of responsibility for the deaths of some of their fighters.
All indications are that these letters with official stamps have been sent by the Taliban, the NOS reported.
The NOS said it had contacted some 10 interpreters or other Afghans who had worked for Dutch forces and whose situation was becoming increasingly difficult.
In June, the Taliban called on interpreters who had worked for foreign forces to regret it, but to remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign forces, and promised that nothing bad would happen to them.
Immediately after taking power, the Taliban issued a general amnesty to Afghan government and army officials.
Despite promises not to retaliate, the Taliban are pursuing people who have worked for foreign forces, according to a confidential UN report.
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