At the time the Taliban executed 22 Afghan soldiers who had already surrendered

the Taliban, who are leading an impressive offensive in Afghanistan, they executed several Afghan special forces soldiers who had surrendered and were unarmed, in one war crime which puts down the propaganda of the insurgent group, which claims to show itself as a legitimate force to rule the country.

The murders took place on June 16 in the city of Dawlat abad, province of Faryab, near Afghanistan’s border with Turkmenistan and were recorded by a video obtained by specialized media Construction 530 Yes verified by CNN, who also spoke with witnesses to the episode.

The Red Cross also confirmed that the bodies of 22 Afghan soldiers were found.

According to witnesses cited by the American media, Afghan Special Forces soldiers Ktah Khas (KKA, the national counterterrorism unit of the government of Kabul) they were forced to surrender when they ran out of ammunition after being surrounded by Taliban fighters in a fierce battle for control of the city.

Although Taliban propaganda claims voluntary surrender is “safe option”, the video shows the insurgents who, after having grouped the soldiers, start shouting Allahu Akhbar and they shoot point blank with automatic weapons.

The Afghan soldiers were still equipped with the helmet Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST), a combat helmet used by special operations forces, while the Taliban carry the soldiers’ weapons, as seen in the video.

The weapons appear to be M4 carabiners with front grip, IR laser and ACOG style optics that the United States delivered to the Afghan Special Forces.

Video appears to unequivocally contradict Taliban propaganda, who promise Afghan soldiers that, if they surrender, they will be treated humanely and even receive compensation to return to their places of origin.

By offering this incentive to Afghan troops, the insurgent group he hopes to reduce the high number of casualties he suffered in his offensive against the Afghan government.

Recently, Taliban propaganda online has shown Afghan National Army infantry and militia soldiers greeted with hugs by Taliban leaders while handing in their weapons and ensuring that they will no longer fight the Taliban in the future.

However, the Taliban do not appear to be considering the option of safe surrender for Afghan special forces. Indeed, the insurgents particularly fear these elite corps which, although they constitute only 7% of the Afghan military force, lead between 70 and 80% of the fighting for the government. Of all the special forces, the counterterrorism unit Ktah Khas featured in the video is the one with the highest level of training and specialization.

Total offense

Since the end of May, The Taliban, taking advantage of the withdrawal of foreign troops, which will end in the coming weeks, seized significant parts of the country and they already surround several provincial capitals.

Due to the lack of air support provided by US troops, the Afghan army has no way of offering significant resistance to the insurgents and currently only controls major cities and main roads.

This Tuesday, the Taliban urged townspeople to surrender to avoid further damage and also warned Turkey against keeping its troops in the country.

“Now that the fighting has reached the city gates from the mountains and the deserts, the mujahedin no longer want to fight inside the city,” he said. Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a message posted on Twitter by a spokesperson for the Taliban.

“It is better that our compatriots use the means at their disposal to get in touch” with us and “Reach a sensible deal to prevent cities from being hurt”said Muttaqi, former Minister of Information and Culture of the Taliban regime.

The Taliban “They guarantee to all the inhabitants that Afghanistan will be their homeland and that no one will take revenge”Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgents, said in a voicemail.

Insurgents claimed last week that they have in their possession 85% of the Afghan territory, a figure disputed by the country’s authorities and impossible to verify independently.

In addition, The Taliban warned Turkey on Tuesday against keeping troops in Afghanistan after US-led forces leave the countrys and they considered his decision to be “reprehensible”.

“Turkish authorities’ decision is wrong, a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity and goes against our national interests, ”the Taliban said in a statement, days after Turkey pledged to provide troops to protect Kabul airport when foreign forces leave the site in August. .

“We consider the maintenance of foreign troops in our homeland, whatever the country or the pretext, an occupation and the invaders will be treated as such”they added.

The Taliban have promised that if Turkey “does not reverse its decision” the insurgent group “will resist as it resisted 20 years of foreign occupation”.

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