Taliban asked to respect amnesty pledge as 21 countries condemn ‘summary killings’

More than 20 countries have expressed concern over reports of Taliban carrying out extra-judicial killings and disappearances of former Afghan security forces. In their statement , the 21 countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, said the alleged actions “constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban‘s announced amnesty.” The statement called on the Taliban to effectively enforce the amnesty for former members of the Afghan security forces and former Government officials “to ensure that it is upheld across the country and throughout their ranks.” 

The countries called for a full and transparent investigation of the allegations made by Human Rights Watch.

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“Those responsible must be held accountable,” the statement read. “We will continue to measure the Taliban by their actions.”

A Human Rights Watch report published on Tuesday alleged that more than a hundred former Afghan security forces had been killed or forcibly disappeared since their surrender following the Taliban’s takeover of the country in mid August.

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The report, based on interviews with witnesses, relatives and friends of the victims, detailed “the summary execution or enforced disappearance” of military personnel, police, intelligence service members and paramilitary militia, who had surrendered to or were apprehended by Taliban forces between August 15 and October 31.

In some cases, local Taliban commanders have drawn up hit lists of people who they say committed “unforgivable” acts, the report alleged.

On Saturday, Taliban Prime Minister Mohammed Hassan Akhund denied the allegations in a public address.

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When the Taliban took over, “they announced amnesty for all. Has there been any example of this?” he said.

“There is no problem for anyone.” But he added that if any former security officer “resumes his bad deed…then he will be punished based on his crime.”