Afghan detainee death: Czech soldiers pardoned

KABUL (Pajhwok): Czech President Petr Pavel has granted pardons to four members of the country's special forces facing prosecution over the death of a detained Afghan soldier.

Reuters reported the soldiers, all from the 601st Special Operations Forces Group, were set to stand trial on charges including extortion, insubordination, dereliction of duty and failure to provide aid.

Czech media reported that the case involved the 2018 death of 19-year-old Wahidullah Khan, who was detained following an attack on coalition troops at Shindand base in western Herat province.

The attack had resulted in the death of one Czech soldier and injuries to two others.

President Pavel's office stated that the decision to issue pardons came after a thorough assessment of the case, noting the "exceptional nature of the war situation in which the incident occurred."

The office also emphasised that the soldiers were not primarily accused of violent crimes.

The New York Times first reported on the incident in 2018, stating that Khan was allegedly beaten after being taken into custody by US and Czech troops.

He was returned to Afghan forces later the same day in an unconscious state and died shortly afterward.

The Czech military was active in Afghanistan from 2002 until the withdrawal of international forces in 2021.

sa/mud