KABUL: Rahmatullah Andar, a former member of Afghanistan’s National Security Council, has claimed that videos showing the arrest and alleged mistreatment of people under Taliban rule are being deliberately circulated to divert public attention from Pakistan’s airstrikes and the country’s security situation.
In a post on X, Andar said arrests, beatings, humiliation and other forms of mistreatment of civilians were common under Taliban rule. He claimed that media restrictions make it difficult for people to document and publicly share such incidents.
Andar further suggested that a complete version of one recently circulated video could potentially clarify whether it was recorded by Taliban members themselves. He did not provide evidence establishing that the Taliban had produced or intentionally released the video.
According to Andar, the circulation of such footage is aimed at shifting public attention away from Pakistan’s military operations and the broader security situation in Afghanistan.
His comments come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, with military strikes and cross-border security allegations dominating regional discussions. Pakistani authorities have linked their operations to militant threats originating from Afghan territory, while Taliban authorities have disputed Pakistan’s accounts and criticized its military actions.
The authenticity, origin and circumstances surrounding the video referenced by Andar remain unclear from the available information. His interpretation of the purpose behind its circulation also remains an allegation and has not been independently verified.