Despite the Taliban’s repeated claims of providing a “general amnesty” following its return to power, fresh accounts from Daykundi, Badakhshan and other parts of Afghanistan reportedly paint a different picture of the group’s treatment of former government security personnel.
According to an account attributed to author Yama Jalaluddin, former military and security personnel who served under Afghanistan’s previous government continue to face serious concerns despite assurances of amnesty from Taliban authorities.
The Taliban announced a general amnesty after taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, calling on former government officials and security forces to return to normal life. However, human rights organizations and Afghan sources have over the years reported cases of arbitrary detention, threats, torture and killings involving former security personnel.
The latest accounts from provinces including Daykundi and Badakhshan have renewed questions about the implementation of the Taliban’s amnesty policy at the local level. Former members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces have remained particularly vulnerable, with some reportedly avoiding public life or leaving the country because of security concerns.
The allegations also highlight the gap that can emerge between official policies announced by Taliban leadership and the actions of local commanders and security personnel.
The claims cited in the report require independent verification, and the Taliban has previously rejected allegations of systematic retaliation against former government personnel, maintaining that its amnesty remains in effect.
Nevertheless, continued reports involving former security forces could further intensify international scrutiny of Afghanistan’s human rights situation and the Taliban’s commitments toward those who served the previous government.