London [UK], July 14 (ANI): Amnesty International has condemned the Taliban’s killing of 22 surrendering Afghan soldiers in Northern Afghanistan and termed the incident a “war crime”.
This comes after footage of public execution, taken in Faryab province’s Dawlat Abad town last month, was made public by CNN this week.
According to the Red Cross, the bodies of 22 Afghan commandos were recovered from the scene. The rights group has asked the Afghan authorities to probe into the “reprehensible act” to bring those responsible to justice.
Responding to footage broadcast by CNN, Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s South Asia Campaigner, said: “This deeply disturbing footage offers a horrific insight into the increasingly desperate situation enveloping Afghanistan. What we are witnessing is the cold-blooded murder of surrendering soldiers – a war crime.
“This evidence suggests that the Taliban’s persistent claims to have changed their ways are predicated on a lie and completely undermines their claims that they will respect human rights in the peace process. The Afghan authorities should launch an immediate investigation into this reprehensible act in an attempt to bring those responsible to justice, however, should this fail the international community and the International Criminal Court must step in.”

Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against civilians and Afghan defence and security forces as foreign forces are withdrawing from the war-torn country.
As the Taliban have taken control of several districts across the country, US intelligence assessments have suggested the country’s civilian government could fall to the terror group within months of US forces withdrawing.
Refuting the CNN report, the Taliban spokesperson today said that CNN report claiming that the “Mujahideen the Islamic Emirate” has killed commando soldiers after surrendering is not true. “A fake scene has been montaged with another scene of 22 commandos who had been killed during fighting in Faryab province,” Suhail Shaheen tweeted.
He claimed that the two scenes have been photoshopped and montaged, for the preparation of the report. (ANI)

Taliban continue to have strong links with al-Qaeda, says Afghan President Ghani’s advisor

Kabul [Afghanistan] July 14 (ANI): Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s advisor Wahid Omar has pointed out that the Taliban enjoy a strong relationship with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, and both the groups have been jointly attacking government institutions in the country.
The relationship between two terrorist groups has been strengthened over time, Omar said as cited by Afghanistan Times.
“This is a relationship between two bodies who believe violence, believe terrorism and believe the killing of people. This relation is as deep as Taliban and al-Qaeda are the same,” Omar said.
In its 2020 peace deal with US, Taliban promised to cut ties with al-Qaeda and other international terrorist groups but the senior officials of the two terrorist groups have personal relations like marriage, therefore, no change was seen in the relations between Taliban and al-Qaeda, Afghanistan Times reported citing UN reports.
The report also informed that the second generation of Taliban and al-Qaeda have strengthened their ties. Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar also admitted that al-Qaeda has influence and presence in 11 out of 34 provinces in the country.
“Nobody can deny this. There are Pakistani, Uzbek, Chechen, Tajik and Arab terrorists who fights alongside Taliban against the people of Afghanistan,” said Fawad Aman, a spokesman of the Afghan Defense Ministry.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials have also accused Pakistan of extending support to Taliban terrorists and providing safe haven to them. Pakistan has denied these claims despite overwhelming evidence to prove otherwise.
However, Pakistan ministers and officials, have also issued statements proving that Pakistan hosts and supports the Taliban.
Recently, Pakistan interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that families of Afghanistan’s Taliban reside in his country, including in the capital city of Islamabad, and sometimes the members of the insurgent outfit are treated in local hospitals. (ANI)

Taliban terrorists continue to roam freely in Quetta, parts of Pakistan, says lawmaker

Islamabad [Pakistan], July 14 (ANI): A Pakistani lawmaker on Wednesday has slammed Imran Khan’s government for allowing Taliban terrorists to roam freely in different parts of Pakistan.
Taking to Twitter, Member National Assembly Mohsin Dawar said killers of Afghans and thousands of our people are being supported openly in Pakistan.
Dawar also tagged a video in which scores of people are seen in Quetta riding bikes while holding the flags in support of the Taliban.
Such videos and pictures of support in Pakistan of the Taliban continued to surface on social media.
“Taliban terrorists continue to roam freely in different parts of Pakistan including Quetta. Such brazenness is not possible without the state’s consent. Killers of Afghans and thousands of our people are being supported openly. We will continue to oppose such suicidal policies,” Member National Assembly Mohsin Dawar tweeted.

Earlier this week, Dawar said that Pakistan President Arif Alvi and government officials have openly admitted to Islamabad’s role in Afghanistan and exporting terrorists to the war-torn country.
Speaking in the Pakistan National Assembly on Monday, independent MNA Dawar had said the Taliban are Pakistan’s favourites in Afghanistan.
“Taliban are exported to Afghanistan from here while the FM and President justify Amrullah Saleh’s claims about Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan with their statements. Dead bodies of Taliban fighters are brought back to Pakistan for burial. Taliban continue being supported openly,” Dawar tweeted, sharing a clip of his remarks in the National Assembly.
Since US and NATO forces announced their withdrawal in April, more than 1,000 soldiers of Afghan defense forces have been killed and more than 3,000 civilians have died. Amid the Taliban‘s growing offensive, Joe Biden administration is set to exit Afghanistan till the end of August.
Last week, Afghanistan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay told ANI that Ashraf Ghani government have from time to again said the presence of Shuras in Quetta and Peshawar and elsewhere in Pakistan, is of great concern to the Afghan government.
“Their families still live there. You may remember that the Taliban delegation visiting for a consultation in Pakistan. So yes they have the support infrastructure currently present in Pakistan.”
The envoy further warned Pakistan that its support to the terrorist organisation will later hurt Islamabad. (ANI)