[ Reuters ] EXCLUSIVE-Internal UN document says Taliban threatened, beat staff
The Taliban stopped an Afghan United Nations staff member as he tried to reach Kabul airport on Sunday. They searched his vehicle and found his U.N. identification. Then they beat him.
The incidents are among dozens contained in an internal U.N. security document seen by Reuters that describes veiled threats, the looting of U.N. offices and physical abuse of staff since Aug. 10, shortly before the Taliban swept to power.
While the Islamist militant movement has sought to reassure Afghans and Western powers that they will respect people’s rights, reports of reprisals have undermined confidence, not least among those associated with foreign organizations.
The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the U.N. incident list.
The group has said it would investigate reported abuses, and has also encouraged aid organizations to continue their work. It said this week that aid was welcome, as long as it was not used as a means of political influence over Afghanistan.
The United Nations said it did not comment on leaked security documents.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric added: “The authorities that are in charge in Kabul are responsible for the safety and security of U.N. staff and premises. We remain in touch with them in that regard.”
DPA Notes: This is looking rather bleak for both the people still in Afghanistan, and those of the leadership in Taliban.
The inability to control their own fighters from committing crimes would spell the end of the “coalition” within Taliban: the international recognition that they seek may not come into fruition at this rate, and may likely let to the breakaway of major geographical/ethnic factions within the Taliban, starting a new civil war.