RASC News Agency: Local sources from Panjshir report that the Taliban have apprehended a former military officer from the province in Kabul. Identified as Qutbuddin, the ex-serviceman was reportedly detained a week ago by the Taliban’s intelligence forces. According to sources, Qutbuddin previously served in the Directorate for the Protection of Prominent Figures under the former government. However, he was dismissed from his position a year before the regime’s collapse. The sources emphasized that he has no known connections to anti-Taliban groups, leaving the rationale behind his arrest shrouded in mystery. Predictably, Taliban security officials in Kabul have declined to comment on the matter.
Reports from credible national and international organizations reveal a troubling pattern of persecution. Since reclaiming control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have systematically detained, tortured, and executed tens of thousands of Tajiks from various provinces. Verified sources confirm that over 14,000 Panjshiri Tajiks currently languish in Taliban prisons.
Allegations suggest that, for the Taliban, being Panjshiri is tantamount to 50% proof of guilt. Once detained, the remaining “evidence” is often fabricated by accusing the individual of links to the Resistance Front, culminating in sham trials and extrajudicial killings. After Panjshiris, the Andarabi community has borne the brunt of the Taliban’s ethnic purges. Over the past three years, thousands of Andarabis have been detained and subjected to inhumane treatment, making them the second-most targeted group in the Taliban’s campaign of ethnic persecution.
This systematic oppression and ethnic profiling starkly highlight the Taliban’s continued disregard for human rights and international norms. The global community must address this escalating crisis to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability for the regime’s actions.
