DAIKUNDI: A former police commander from Afghanistan’s Daikundi province has reportedly died in a coal mine in Tajikistan after leaving the country following alleged detention and harassment by Taliban fighters.
Sources told 8AM that Reza Mujahidzadeh, who served as police commander of Patu district during Afghanistan’s former Republic government, died following a partial collapse at a coal mine in Tajikistan.
According to the sources, Mujahidzadeh was arrested by the Taliban around one and a half years ago while travelling from Kabul toward Daikundi. He was reportedly detained in the Jalrez area of Maidan Wardak province and released after nearly a month in captivity.
The sources further alleged that Mujahidzadeh continued to face harassment and intimidation from Taliban fighters following his release. He eventually left Afghanistan and travelled to Tajikistan, where he took up work at a coal mine.
His reported death highlights the difficult circumstances faced by some former members of Afghanistan’s security and defence forces who have left the country since the Taliban returned to power.
According to the report, dozens of former security personnel have sought employment in neighboring countries after allegedly fearing arrest, detention or mistreatment in Afghanistan.
The circumstances surrounding Mujahidzadeh’s death and the allegations of harassment could not be independently verified.