A new United Nations quarterly report reveals that, despite the Taliban’s declaration of a general amnesty, human rights violations against former Afghan government officials and members of the previous government’s defense and security forces continue unabated.
The report, issued by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), documents at least four extrajudicial killings, nine arbitrary arrests, and six instances of torture or mistreatment involving former Afghan officials and military personnel.
These incidents, the UN says, contradict the Taliban’s public pledge to pardon those affiliated with the previous government.
In addition to these cases, the report highlights a broader pattern of abuses targeting individuals suspected of ties to the National Resistance Front, an anti-Taliban group. UNAMA recorded one extrajudicial killing and seven arbitrary arrests of people accused of having connections to the resistance.
The ongoing violations raise serious concerns about the Taliban’s commitment to upholding human rights and adhering to its own declarations, according to the UN.