Taliban reject UN report accusing them of killing 100 ex-govt officials

The Afghan Taliban on Monday rejected a report by United Nations (UN) accusing the group of killing around 100 former government officials after taking the reins of the war-stricken country.

The UN, in its report revealed earlier today, said the group and its allies had killed former officials and security force members and people who worked with the international military contingent since the US-led pullout.

However, interim Afghan government's deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi in a video statement said the authorities hadn't allowed anyone to "abduct, torture or raid the houses of former government employees or servicemen".

He further said that the government was strictly adhering to its "forgiveness decree and that no one will be allowed to carry out such atrocities in violation of the order".

Also read: UN report says Taliban have killed scores of former Afghan officials, others

The report sounds the latest in a series of warnings the UN chief has issued in recent months about the humanitarian and economic crises that accelerated after the Taliban seized Kabul as the last US-led foreign troops left and international donors cut critical financial aid.

Guterres recommended the council approve a restructuring of the UN mission to deal with the situation, including the creation of a new human rights monitoring unit.

The UN mission "continues to receive credible allegations of killings, enforced disappearances and other violations" against former officials, security force members and people who worked for the US-led international military contingent despite a general amnesty announced by the Taliban, the report said.

Also read: Taliban detain dozens trying to ‘illegally’ leave Afghanistan by air

The mission has determined as credible reports that more than 100 of those individuals have been killed – more than two-thirds of them allegedly by the Taliban or their affiliates – since Aug 15, it said.

There also are credible allegations of the extra-judicial killings of at least 50 people suspected of belonging to the local branch of the Islamic State militant group, according to the report.

"Human rights defenders and media workers continue to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings," it said.

(With input from Reuters)