The United States and its Western allies accused the Taliban on Saturday (4) of “summary executions” of former members of the Afghan security forces, revealed by human rights organizations.
“We are deeply concerned about reports of summary executions and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces, documented by Human Rights Watch and others,” reads a statement signed by the United States, the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan, among others, published by the US Department of State.
The countries said the rights violations “contradict” the amnesty to security forces announced by the Taliban after it seized power in Afghanistan in August, when the US-backed Kabul government and army collapsed.
“We underline that the alleged actions constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban’s amnesty announcement,” declared the group of nations, calling on Afghanistan’s new rulers to ensure that the amnesty is enforced and “ratified throughout the country and in all its ranks”.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report documenting the summary execution or enforced disappearance of 47 former Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) members, other military, police and intelligence agents “who surrendered or were detained by Taliban forces” from mid-August to October.
“Reported cases must be investigated promptly and transparently, those responsible must be held accountable, and these measures must be clearly publicized as a deterrent to future murders and disappearances,” say the signatory countries, which include Canada, New Zealand, Romania , Ukraine and several European nations.
“We will continue to measure the Taliban for their actions,” they noted.
The Taliban took power in August, some 20 years after they were expelled by US forces, which ended a fundamentalist term marked by brutal treatment of women, failure to defend human rights and strict interpretation of Islam.
Current Taliban leaders, eager to gain international respect, have promised their regime will be different.
But the new government continues to apply violent punishments, and the United Nations has expressed concern over “credible allegations” that it has carried out retaliatory killings since its victory, despite promises of amnesty for troops from the ousted government.
In its report, HRW indicated that Taliban leaders ordered the surrendered security forces to register with the authorities in order to verify their links with certain military units or special forces and thus receive a letter guaranteeing their security.
“However, the Taliban used these checks to arrest and, in short, execute or vanish individuals days after their registration, leaving their bodies to be found by families or communities,” the organization explained.
Washington spoke with Taliban officials earlier this week when it urged the Islamic fundamentalist group to give women and girls access to education across the country.
It was the second round of discussions, held in Doha, since US forces left Afghanistan.
It also “expressed deep concern over allegations of human rights abuses,” according to a US spokesman.
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