KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban intelligence agents have reportedly detained three men from Panjshir, including two former soldiers, in Panjshir province and Kabul.
The former soldiers, identified by local sources as Mohammad Asghar and Mohammad Khalis, were arrested last week in the Dara district of Panjshir. Both men are reported to have served in the army under the previous government. Mohammad Khalis, who had recently returned from Iran, was detained in the area on Thursday.
In a separate incident, sources in Kabul reported that Taliban agents detained a civilian, Abdul Hamid, originally from Panjshir, on January 6. According to the sources, Abdul Hamid had no military background and was working as a tailor in Kabul.
The Taliban authorities have yet to comment on these detentions.
This incident is the latest in a series of targeted arrests, detentions, torture, and killings of former soldiers and officials of the previous government, particularly those from Panjshir province, by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In his quarterly report, covering the period from August to October and submitted to the UN Security Council in December, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres documented at least five killings, 14 arbitrary arrests and detentions, and four instances of torture of former government officials and members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) by the Taliban.
In many cases, the Taliban accuses former ANDSF members, especially those from Panjshir, of possessing weapons or 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 consistently criticized the Taliban for engaging in revenge killings and committing widespread human rights violations. They have urged the regime to respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, including former ANDSF members.
