Supreme Taliban leader orders not to 'punish' former Afghan officials

The Taliban's supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, orders his troops not to “punish” officials of the former Afghan government.

"Respect my amnesty and do not punish the employees of the previous regime for their crimes of the past," he said, quoted on Twitter on Thursday by a spokesman for the Taliban, Mohammad Naeem.

Mohammad Naeem said the mullah, who has not been seen in public, filmed or photographed for years, was speaking Wednesday evening to Afghan officials in Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold.

The statements come after a video widely shared on social media, in which a former army officer is seen being beaten in a cell by two Taliban fighters.

The Islamic emirate (name given by the Taliban to their regime) said Wednesday that one of the soldiers would be punished.

More than 100 former police and intelligence officers missing

When they came to power in mid-August, the Taliban had decreed a general amnesty and ensured that former soldiers or employees of the former Afghan government were not threatened.

Despite these promises, the UN and NGOs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported "credible allegations" of the summary execution or enforced disappearance of more than 100 former police and intelligence officers. .

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On Tuesday, around thirty women demonstrated in Kabul for their rights, but also to ask the Taliban to stop their "criminal machine" and the assassinations of members of the former regime.

In his speech, Hibatullah Akhundzada also called on local authorities and tribal leaders to ensure that Afghans do not want to leave the country and that "their honor is protected".

"Afghans are not respected in other countries, so no Afghan should leave the country," he said as the service issuing passports was taken by storm during its rare moments of openness.

Many are trying to escape the growing humanitarian crisis hitting the country, deprived of international aid since the Taliban came to power and the withdrawal of NATO troops.