...mindless ferocity in a turban...have increased their detention of both former government military personnel and civilians in various parts of the country. According to sources, in just the past week, the Taliban have detained dozens of individuals from the provinces of Panjshir, Parwan, Baghlan, and Takhar. Sources add that the Taliban are detaining these individuals on various pretexts and releasing them upon payment of ransom. According to sources, the Taliban are subjecting the detainees to severe torture in their prisons to coerce them into making payments. Local sources accuse this group of extortion and call for an end to such detention practices.
Findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that over the past month, the Taliban have detained at least 45 individuals in Takhar, 26 in Badakhshan, and more than 30 in Baghlan provinces. Most of those detained in Badakhshan are residents of the districts of Shiveh and Shuhada from this province. In Takhar, the majority of individuals detained are from Taloqan City, the scenic provincial capital. In Baghlan province, most of those detained are from the Khost district.