Western countries express concern over Afghan reprisals, Taliban dismiss claims
- About 50 countries in the West are calling for prompt investigations into reported cases of killings and disappearances to prevent further incidents
- Taliban government says accusations of reprisal killings amount to ‘slander against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, not justice’
A group of Western countries including the United States, Germany, Britain and France have expressed concern over reported killings and disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August.
In a joint statement issued over the weekend, the 21 countries plus the European Union referred to reports of such abuses documented by Human Rights Watch and others.
“We underline that the alleged actions constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban’s announced amnesty,” said the statement, issued by the German Foreign Ministry.
“Reported cases must be investigated promptly and in a transparent manner, those responsible must be held accountable, and these steps must be clearly publicised as an immediate deterrent to further killings and disappearances,” it said.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sayed Khosti rejected the accusation of reprisal killings, saying no evidence had been presented.