4.3. Persons with perceived affiliation to anti-Taliban groups

4.3.1. Suspected affiliates of resistance groups

In 2022, various sources started reporting on reprisal attacks by the Taliban, including arbitrary arrests and killings of civilians, in areas associated with resistance groups, mostly in Panjsher Province,1191 but also in the provinces of Baghlan, Takhar1192 and in Daykundi.1193 The situation had reportedly calmed by 2023,1194 but some reports suggest that killings1195 and arrests have continued, targeting individuals suspected of being affiliated with resistance groups.1196 This includes Rawadari that recorded 18 killings of civilians accused of cooperating with military and political opponents in 2025, including the NRF and the AFF. The organisation identified ‘anyone accused of cooperating with anti-Taliban groups’ as one of the primary targets of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture. In many cases, the Taliban was believed to have been involved in such killings.1197 In January–March 2025, UNAMA recorded arrests in Panjsher and Kabul of individuals affiliated with the former government on allegations of being NRF affiliates.1198 AW recorded 138 arrests of men originating from Panjsher (NRF’s former stronghold1199) in the period 1 January 2024–30 January 2025, both in Panjsher Province and in other areas of the country such as Kapisa and Kabul. AW reported that these arrests likely targeted suspect affiliates to resistance groups. 1200

Individuals accused of being associated with resistance groups have reportedly often been former security force personnel.1201 According to Saleem and Semple, former security force personnel in areas with a history of armed resistance were disproportionally targeted, being perceived as ‘potential resistance fighters’ regardless of their actual involvement.1202 Similarly, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan reported on individuals originating from Panjsher being targeted by the de facto authorities because of their geographical origin and the presumption of being in allegiance with anti-Taliban groups.1203 Kerr Chiovenda observed that Tajik men had been arrested on ‘blanket assumptions’ of being NRF affiliates, including in areas far from the group’s former strongholds.1204

Previous reports from 2023 suggested that also family members of individuals suspected of having ties to resistance groups had been targeted by the de facto authorities to obtain information, scare and intimidate them.1205 An anonymous human rights expert told Landinfo in 2023 that a whole family was killed due to suspicions of having links to NRF.1206 More recent information on the treatment of family members could not be found within the time constraints of drafting this report.