The Islamic insurgent group Taliban caught nations off-guard at the speed that they were able to take over the Afghan government and the country following the withdrawal of the US and other forces from the region. A United Nations document has revealed that the insurgent group is now ramping up search efforts for Afghans who have helped the US during the 20-year conflict.
The UN report by the organization’s threat assessment consultants, according to Agence-France Presse, revealed that the insurgent group has “priority lists” of individuals they are looking to arrest. The document further states that those individuals who are at risk of getting arrested by the Taliban are those who had key roles in the Afghan military, Afghan police, and Afghan intelligence units. The report goes on to say that the Taliban are making door-to-door visits to those they are looking to apprehend including their families.
The Taliban is also reportedly screening individuals who are on their way to Kabul airport and set up checkpoints in major cities like Kabul and Jalalabad.
“They are targeting the families of those who refuse to give themselves up, and prosecuting and punishing their families ‘according to Sharia Law’” said Norwegian Center for Global Analyses executive director Christian Nellemann. “We expect both individuals previously working with NATO/US forces and their allies, alongside with their family members to be exposed to torture and executions. This will further jeopardize western intelligence services, their networks, methods, and ability to counter both the Taliban, ISIS, and other terrorist threats ahead.”
The report goes on to state that the insurgent group is also recruiting new members to serve as their informers to the group’s regime and are expanding their reach towards mosques and money brokers.
The report contradicts the media blitz the group has looked to carry out in the hopes of convincing western nations that their beliefs have changed. In one previous news conference, the group’s spokesperson Mohammad Naeem previously said that the Taliban are not seeking retaliation on Afghans who have helped the US/NATO during the 20-year conflict.
Naeem said that the group is looking to have discussions with the west in order to ensure peace in the region and safety for its citizens.