“Despite promises of tolerance and amnesty, reports suggest Taliban’s actions contradict their claims of reform.”
As the Taliban takes control of Kabul for the second time, they have claimed to have changed, promising a more tolerant rule and offering amnesty to those who opposed them over the last two decades. However, reports from the ground suggest their actions tell a different story, indicating that their claims of reform may only be for show.
In 1996, when the Taliban first seized Kabul, their rule was marked by brutal repression. They tortured and killed former President Mohammad Najibullah, publicly dragging his body through the streets. This time, as Kabul fell, the Taliban ordered their troops to hold back to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. When they did enter the city, their commanders touted an “amnesty,” repeatedly assuring journalists and citizens that no retribution would follow.
However, these promises are increasingly being questioned, as emerging reports paint a darker picture. There are accounts of beatings, house searches, and attacks on women—actions that contradict the more tolerant image the Taliban is attempting to project. A spokesman for the group, frustrated with repeated questions about their commitment to amnesty, dismissively responded, “Do you want an amnesty statement to be issued every day?”
