US, West blast Taliban over reported ‘summary killings’ of ex-security forces

The United States leads a group of Western nations and allies in condemnation of the Taliban over the “summary killings” of former members of the Afghan security forces reported by rights groups, demanding quick investigations.

“We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces as documented by Human Rights Watch and others,” reads a statement by the United States, the European Union, Australia, Britain, Japan and others, which was released by the US State Department.

“We underline that the alleged actions constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban’s announced amnesty,” the group of nations says, as it calls on Afghanistan’s new rulers to ensure the amnesty is enforced and “upheld across the country and throughout their ranks.”