Nasir Ahmad Faiq: Taliban Targets Former Government Soldiers

Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s acting permanent representative to the United Nations, has condemned the targeted killing of former soldiers by the Taliban, citing recent reports, saying that these actions contradict the Taliban’s claim of general amnesty and Islamic teachings.
Mr. Faiq wrote on his X-Page today (Sunday, August 25) that the targeted killing of former soldiers by the Taliban continues. He questioned the claim of general amnesty announced by Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada and emphasized that killing unarmed people contradicts Islamic teachings.
Faiq made these statements following recent reports that indicate the killing and arrest of former soldiers and civil activists by the Taliban. According to reports, in the past two days alone, sources have reported the killing and arrest of three former soldiers.
Faiq called on the international community to exert more pressure to stop these crimes and hold the Taliban accountable. He also stressed the need to protect victims and document human rights violations. This comes amid numerous reports of torture, enforced disappearances and targeted killings by the Taliban, particularly against former security forces and ethnic minorities.
The United Nations has also documented in recent days reports of arbitrary detention, torture and imprisonment of former soldiers and civil society activists returning from neighbouring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan. UNAMA, the UN mission in Afghanistan, has called these practices a violation of human rights and has put women at greater risk.
The reports come as the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants for Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the head of the Taliban Supreme Court, on charges of “crimes against humanity”. The Taliban have condemned the move and do not recognise the ICC.