Execution of surrendering soldiers war crime: AI

KABUL (Pajhwok):The  Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday said that the Taliban committed a cold blooded murder of surrendering soldiers in northern Faryab province last month.

Responding to a footage broadcast by CNN showing a group of Afghan commandos being executed by Taliban fighters, Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s South Asia Campaigner, said:  “This deeply disturbing footage offers a horrific insight into the increasingly desperate situation enveloping Afghanistan. What we are witnessing is the cold-blooded murder of surrendering soldiers – a war crime.”

“This evidence suggests that the Taliban’s persistent claims to have changed their ways are predicated on a lie and completely undermines their claims that they will respect human rights in the peace process.”

Hamidi said the Afghan authorities should launch an immediate investigation into this reprehensible act in an attempt to bring those responsible to justice, however, should this fail the international community and the International Criminal Court must step in.”

According to CNN the footage was taken last month in town of Dawlat Abad in Faryab province in northern Afghanistan. According to the Red Cross, the bodies of 22 Afghan commandos were recovered from the scene.

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