KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in northeastern Panjshir province report that Taliban intelligence agents detained a member of the former Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in Kabul.
Speaking with KabulNow today, the sources identified the former ANDSF member as Qotbuddin, originally from Panjshir province, who was detained in Kabul city a week ago.
According to the sources, Qotbuddin served as a member of the Directorate of Protection for High-ranking Officials during the previous government and was dismissed from his position before the government’s collapse and the Taliban’s return to power.
The reason for the detention of this former ANDSF member remains unknown. However, the sources said he had no ties to any armed groups opposing the Taliban.
The Taliban authorities have yet to comment on the matter.
This incident is the latest in a series of targeted arrests, detentions, torture, and killings of former soldiers and employees of the previous government by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan three years ago, the Taliban, despite their declared “general amnesty,” have arrested, detained, severely tortured, and, in some cases, killed hundreds of former ANDSF members across the country.
According to KabulNow data, in November alone, the Taliban detained at least six former ANDSF members across several provinces in Afghanistan. Some cases remain unreported due to Taliban media restrictions, particularly in remote areas.
In its latest report to the UN Security Council, the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented at least 24 cases of arbitrary detention, 10 cases of torture, and five cases of revenge killings of former soldiers between July and September 2024.
In most cases, the Taliban accuses former ANDSF members, particularly those from Panjshir, of collaborating with armed resistance groups, such as the National Resistance Front (NRF) or the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF).
The UN and human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the Taliban for revenge killings and widespread human rights violations, urging the regime to uphold the rights and freedoms of all citizens, including former ANDSF members.
