Do not seek revenge on previous government: Taliban minister

Taliban minister of Interior Affairs Sirajuddin Haqqani has passed an order onto senior Taliban commanders in Afghanistan to not seek "revenge" on officials of the previous administration in Afghanistan as it was not conducive to the system of rule they had established.

Anyone who seeks revenge spoils the current system which is not acceptable, said Haqqani while speaking at a capacity-building conference of Kabul police districts commanders, The Khaama Press News Agency reported. He further said that he met the previous leaders and officials who have assured him that no one will harm them unless they commit a crime.

"I direct you to investigate cases of prisoners, release them if they were imprisoned for no crime and felony. Incarcerate those who have put innocent people at jails." Haqqani said.

He also stated that it was the support of the common people of Afghanistan that had made the Taliban rule their possible and to respect it at all times. He also said that he had given personal assurance to many officials who were part of the former regime, that their safety was assured as long as they obeyed the law.

Sirajuddin Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen and numerous terrorist activities according to the wanted notice posted on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website.

In November, a Human Rights Watch report had pinpointed the disappearance of numerous officials of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, and Kunduz provinces. Taliban members had already carried out mass executions of members of the Ashraf Ghani government in Kandahar in July, the report said.

"The Taliban have also engaged in abusive search operations, including night raids, to apprehend and, at times, forcibly disappear suspected former civilian and security force officials," the report claimed.

A blast followed by a gun attack that targeted Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and killed 8 people in August of 2021 was one of the first incidents that led the Taliban to warn their own against retaliatory attacks on former regime officials.

An amnesty letter was also issued by the Taliban to such officials, under which members of the ANSF could be granted immunity if they surrendered. However, those surrendering were often out on a list and executed or simply disappeared, Human Rights Watch alleged.