Exclusive: Taliban Physically Assault & Torture Dozens of Inmates at Pul-e-Charkhi Prison

Sources from Pul-e-Charkhi prison have informed Afghanistan International that the Taliban officials have physically assaulted and tortured dozens of political prisoners who were on a hunger strike, demanding a review of their cases.

Sources indicate that these inmates number in the hundreds, most of whom hail from Panjshir and the northern regions of Afghanistan.

Following the crackdown on the protest in Pul-e-Charkhi, the Taliban transferred 220 inmates to the intelligence agency's Department 40, where they were tortured for a week, according to sources.

Relatives of these prisoners, upon visiting them in Pul-e-Charkhi, found many inmates with broken hands, feet, and heads.

This incident occurred two weeks ago.

Prisoners have complained that no human rights bodies or the United Nations have reviewed their situation, leaving them in limbo.

Neither the Taliban nor the UN's office in Afghanistan has released details regarding the Taliban's torture of inmates.

The US State Department recently reported that 90 percent of Taliban prisoners are political detainees.

The US State Department also said that last year, the Taliban kept people in long-term detention without any legal proceedings and systematically violated their right to legal representation.