In an open letter, more than five thousand former government military personnel implore the United States Congress to support the goal of “a gradual end to the death of Afghan citizens, especially women and former military personnel,” instead of endorsing the self-proclaimed Taliban regime, which claims to represent the will of the people.
The Committee for the Support of Former Afghan Military, on Saturday, November 18, expressed deep concern about the situation of former government military personnel in this letter.
They appeal to the U.S. Congress to exert pressure on the Taliban for the “immediate release of former military personnel from Taliban prisons, cessation of massacres, detentions, and their torture.”
The letter further calls upon the United States and the global community to pay attention to the plight of former government military personnel, currently residing within Afghanistan, as well as in the neighboring countries of Pakistan and Iran.
The letter states, “Over the past two years, thousands, including civil activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and other social groups facing less danger in comparison to former military personnel, have been relocated to safer countries. However, the former government military personnel, who were at the forefront of the fight against the Taliban over the past 20 years, have received the least attention and are in the worst situation.”
Meanwhile, some members of the “Purple Saturdays Movement” in the Balkh province supported this letter in a protest session, urging the global community to “put an end to the gradual deaths of women and former government military personnel.”
This comes as, following their return to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have detained hundreds of former government military personnel, imprisoned them, and, in some instances, executed them through various means.
Nevertheless, the group remains unresponsive to any human rights organization regarding such actions.
