Sources have confirmed to Afghanistan International that, in the past three years, 87 individuals have died as a result of torture in Taliban intelligence prisons.
The torture methods reported include electric shocks, suffocation, drowning, and genital abuse.
The majority of the deceased were former military personnel, members of the National Resistance Front, and social activists opposing the Taliban.
Last year, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) conducted an investigation into the conditions in Taliban prisons. The UN report highlighted the use of severe torture techniques, including electric shocks, suffocation, pressure, threats, forced water ingestion, physical beatings, and other forms of severe pain.
Newly disclosed information indicates that Khalid Hikmat, a former Taliban intelligence officer with ties to al-Qaeda, was involved in the torture and deaths of prisoners.
Notably, Golestan, a Kapisa resident arrested two years ago, died under torture while in Taliban custody. His family’s petition led to revelations that Khalid Hikmat, formerly head of Taliban Intelligence Department 65, was responsible for his death.
Hikmat, who was involved in relocating al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to Kabul, was recently arrested, briefly detained, and subsequently released and relocated to Pakistan.
Hikmat reportedly admitted, in the presence of Taliban intelligence officials, to the torture and killing of prisoners whom he accused of spreading anti-Taliban propaganda.
Additionally, Khalil Hamrar, another Taliban intelligence official, has been implicated in similar abuses. Reports suggest that Arash, and Ali, both from West Kabul, were tortured to death under Hamrar’s orders for allegedly disseminating anti-Taliban content on social media.
Hamrar had also planned to eliminate Imad Dawran, a poet and former government employee, but refrained from doing so after the case became public.
Following the increase in torture-related deaths, Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of Taliban intelligence, initiated an informal investigation that confirmed the deaths of 87 individuals due to torture.
UNAMA’s report from September 20, 2023, highlighted widespread human rights violations in Taliban prisons, with nearly 50% involving torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment.
The report pointed out that such abuses were prevalent during arrests and within detention facilities under the Ministry of Interior and Taliban intelligence.
The Taliban have provided conflicting figures regarding the number of prisoners. Recently, the head of the Taliban’s prison administration stated that there are approximately ten thousand prisoners in the group’s facilities.
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