KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban intelligence has arrested the brother of a former bodyguard of Abdullah Abdullah, the ex-chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation under the previous government, local sources reported.
The detainee, identified as Najmuddin, was reportedly taken into custody on Saturday, January 18, in the Dara district of Panjshir.
The reason for his arrest remains unclear, according to the sources.
This follows the arrest of Najmuddin’s brother, Mujib, on Friday. Mujib had previously served as Abdullah Abdullah’s bodyguard.
Local Taliban officials in Panjshir have yet to comment on the arrests.
Panjshir province has been a focal point of Taliban crackdowns, as it remains a stronghold for anti-Taliban groups. In recent months, the Taliban have arrested dozens of residents, accusing them of collaborating with these groups or possessing weapons.
Rights organizations have criticized the Taliban’s actions in Panjshir, characterizing them as collective punishment and potential war crimes.