New York Times: 500 Military Officers from Former Afghan Government Killed or Disappeared Under Taliban Rule

The New York Times reports that based on its investigations, it has found that 500 military officers from the former Afghan government have been killed or disappeared during the first six months of Taliban rule.

The newspaper, stating that the Taliban’s general amnesty has been merely in words, wrote that its investigation resulted from interviews with journalists, human rights activists, families, and survivors of victims.

According to the report, family members of employees and officers of the previous regime are also among the killed and missing persons.

The New York Times in its report published on April 12, noted that the Taliban government, despite announcing a general amnesty, has continued to kill and disappear employees and soldiers of the former Afghan state.

Nevertheless, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, while denying the New York Times report, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that no revenge has been taken and there is no evidence to prove this claim.

Previously, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had expressed concern over the killing and disappearance of security forces, officials from the previous regime, and civil activists at the hands of the Taliban.

Source: Radio Farda