Taliban Kills Former Afghan Special Forces Member, Claim Sources

Sources close to the family of Ali Gul Haidari, a former member of Afghan special forces told Afghanistan International, that Haidari was arrested and shot dead in western Kabul on January 16.

Sources attributed the incident to the Taliban intelligence department.

According to them, Haidari had recently returned to Afghanistan from Iran.

Afghanistan International has not been able to independently confirm the reported killing of this former member of the Afghan security forces.

A copy of the announcement of Haidari’s funeral ceremony indicates that his relatives held the funeral ceremony for him in Tehran, on January 19.

Sources added that the Taliban intelligence had detained him about a year and a half ago for 40 days. Subsequently, Haidari was later released and fled to Iran.

Since taking over power in 2021, the Taliban has repeatedly declared that security forces and employees of the previous government are exempt from prosecution and punishment by the group. Nevertheless, human rights organisations report that the Taliban has allegedly tortured and killed hundreds of former military forces, contradicting their proclaimed commitment to refrain from such actions.