Military

Afghan General: Taliban Committing War Crimes, Searching for Targets ‘House by House’

August 14, 2021Joshua Skovlund
Afghanistan

An Afghanistan Uniformed Police post provides security for the Atghar bazaar, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2011. US Army photo by Spc. Jason Nolte.

The Taliban are advancing across Afghanistan quickly, committing war crimes as they seize control of huge swaths of the country, an Afghan general told Coffee or Die Magazine Friday, Aug. 13.


Lt. Gen. Farid Ahmadi is the former commanding general of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and is now assigned to a general ANA role while he recovers from injuries sustained from an IED blast several months ago. Ahmadi said the Taliban were searching for people who had helped the Afghan government.


“War crimes are happening in 10 cities,” Ahmadi said. “[Taliban] and affiliated terrorists are going house by house, searching.”


Herat, Ghazni, and Kandahar — all major cities in Afghanistan — fell to the Taliban Thursday, Ahmadi said. Several members of the Afghan government and police forces and other officials have been taken captive, and war crimes and human rights violations are rampant throughout the Taliban’s newly seized territories.  


The US Embassy in Kabul confirmed that multiple civilian, military, police, and provincial leaders had been unlawfully arrested, and it urged the Taliban to release the leaders, according to a Thursday press release from the embassy. The embassy also called reports that the Taliban have executed surrendering Afghan soldiers “deeply disturbing” and said such acts could constitute war crimes.


Afghan Taliban Ceasefire
An Afghan Mi-17 helicopter from the Kandahar Air Wing lands in southern Kandahar province, Afghanistan, ready to transport Afghan soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 205th Atal Corps, during an Afghan planned and executed air assault March 1, 2012, in southern Daman district. US Army photo by Maj. David Mattox.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was similarly disturbed by “early indications” of the Taliban imposing severe restrictions on human rights, especially targeting women and journalists. Gutteres said reports of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from their communities were horrifying and heartbreaking.


At least 3,000 Marines and soldiers are on their way to assist the evacuation of noncritical embassy personnel as a part of an airlift operation. NPR obtained a State Department memo detailing orders for the evacuation of embassy staff and orders for them to burn documents and computers that contain “sensitive information.”


Regarding people evacuating from Afghanistan, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said during a Friday press conference that capacity “is not [going to] be a problem,” and the US will be able to move thousands of people a day. This will include both Americans and Afghans who are approved through the Special Immigrant Visa program, Kirby said.


Coffee or Die is providing continual updates on the current situation in Afghanistan here.


Read Next: US May Relocate Embassy in Afghanistan, Marines Prepared To Use Lethal and Nonlethal Measures in Evacuation



Joshua Skovlund
Joshua Skovlund

Joshua Skovlund is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die. He covered the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France, multinational military exercises in Germany, and civil unrest during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. Born and raised in small-town South Dakota, he grew up playing football and soccer before serving as a forward observer in the US Army. After leaving the service, he worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. After five years as in paramedicine, he transitioned to a career in multimedia journalism. Joshua is married with two children.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved