KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Panjshir say that the Taliban have arrested three more former military personnel from the Dara district of this province.
According to sources, these individuals are named “Mohammad Saleh, Nasrullah, and Pirouz,” and they were arrested yesterday (Friday, June 19) by Taliban forces from the “Dara Abdullahkhel” area of Dara district.
Local sources had also reported yesterday that Taliban intelligence had arrested two former military personnel named “Mohammad Sohrab” and “Zakir” from this area.
Sources did not explain the reason for the arrest of these two individuals, but said that the three other military personnel were detained on the charge of “possessing weapons.”
According to sources, these individuals had previously handed over their weapons to the Taliban and were living in Panjshir as civilians.
Taliban local officials in Panjshir have so far not commented on the arrest of these individuals.
Panjshir has remained one of the most sensitive provinces for the Taliban since their return to power in August 2021. The province was the center of armed resistance against the Taliban led by anti-Taliban groups, including the National Resistance Front. Although the Taliban declared control over the province, reports of clashes, resistance activity, and security operations have continued in the region.
As a result, the Taliban have maintained a heavy security presence in Panjshir, carrying out frequent search operations and arrests, often citing concerns about weapons possession or alleged links to opposition groups.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have been widely accused of arbitrary detention of former military personnel and former government officials. The group is also accused of torturing and extrajudicially killing former members of the previous government.
A report published earlier by the UK-based rights group Rawadari documented a significant deterioration in Afghanistan’s human rights situation in 2025.
According to the report, at least 617 people were killed and 537 others were injured across the country, representing an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year. The findings highlighted at least 611 civilians affected in targeted, suspicious, or extrajudicial incidents, with victims largely including former government employees, individuals accused of links to opposition groups, protesters, tribal elders, and local community figures.
The report further stated that 378 civilians were killed or injured in such attacks, including 257 deaths. It also noted that 80 former government employees were specifically targeted, while 40 civilians were killed by Taliban forces on allegations of cooperation with opposition groups.
In addition, Rawadari documented 11 deaths inside Taliban-controlled detention facilities, reportedly linked to severe torture, compared to 20 such cases in 2024.
The report also recorded a sharp rise in arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances, with at least 2,559 people unlawfully detained in 2025—more than double the figure from 2024. Among those detained were former government employees, civil society members, human rights defenders, including women, and individuals accused of ties to opposition groups.
These findings reflect broader concerns raised by human rights organizations about increasing violence, arbitrary detention, and lack of accountability in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over continued reports of arrests targeting former Afghan security personnel in different provinces, stating that despite Taliban claims of a general amnesty, such detentions contribute to an atmosphere of fear among ex-government workers who have already surrendered weapons and attempted to reintegrate into civilian life.
