Taliban intelligence personnel have detained 13 young men in Afghanistan’s Ghor province over the past two days over their alleged links to the Afghanistan Green Trend, a political movement led by former Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh, according to informed sources.
Sources said at least six of the arrests were carried out during raids on homes in the village of Atus Sofla, while others were detained from their workplaces in Firozkoh, the provincial capital.
According to the sources, Taliban personnel arrived in military vehicles, searched the homes of those targeted and took them into custody.
In a statement, the Afghanistan Green Trend claimed that Taliban intelligence had arrested dozens of young people in Ghor, particularly in Firozkoh, on suspicion of being associated with the movement’s Green Unit. The group alleged that the detainees could face physical and psychological torture.
Sources said the movement had previously claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on a Taliban checkpoint in Dawlat Yar district. They alleged that after those involved escaped, Taliban authorities began detaining former members or suspected supporters of the movement instead.
On July 8, the Afghanistan Green Trend released a video claiming responsibility for an attack on Taliban personnel in the market area of Dawlat Yar district.
According to one source, around 20 local elders visited the office of the Taliban governor on Wednesday to seek the release of the detainees. The source claimed local Taliban officials said they were unaware of the arrests.
A resident of Ghor said at least three of those detained had previously worked for the former Afghan government in the departments of agriculture and livestock, labor and social affairs, and the National Bank, adding that they were arrested while at work.
Sources further said the detainees had been moved to an undisclosed location, while their families had not been informed of their whereabouts or condition.
The Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding the reported arrests.
