A mass grave containing twelve bodies has been discovered in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban authorities announced on Monday (September 26th).
The mass grave was unearthed by villagers in the Pakistani border town of Spin Boldak, the scene of fierce fighting between former Afghan government forces and Taliban fighters before the latter came to power in August 2021.
The grave, discovered a few days ago according to the authorities, has not yet been the subject of an independent investigation.
According to government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, these people were killed nine years ago when the previous US-backed government was in power.
No official investigation for the moment
"
These are people who were arrested in villages
" by the "
cruel General Raziq
".
"
These are all civilians who were killed and buried in a mass grave
," the spokesperson added, referring to late Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq.
The latter was a fierce opponent of the Taliban who assassinated him in 2018.
“
We are examining the question, after which we will decide on the type of investigation to be carried out
” around this mass grave, indicated Zabihullah Mujahid.
Another unmarked grave containing the body of a person was also discovered in the same province, said Haji Zaid, spokesman for the governor of Kandahar province.
“
It is important that these remains are not moved and further damaged pending forensic examination
,” tweeted UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett.
The brother of the late general, who had succeeded him as Kandahar police chief, denied the charges brought by the Taliban.
"
This is an attempt to defame our family
," Tadin Khan told AFP by telephone from the United Arab Emirates.
Uncertainties about the origin of this mass grave
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an investigation into the killings.
Abdul Raziq, who controlled the region with an iron fist, was as much adored by the Afghan population as he was hated by the Taliban who accuse him of having summarily executed 3,000 of their members.
Human Rights Watch called him "the
chief torturer
".
A few weeks before taking power on August 15, 2021, the Taliban had violently clashed with former government forces in the city of Spin Boldak and its surroundings.
American and British officials had accused the Taliban of killing several former government officials and their relatives in this city after their takeover.