Afghan security forces attend a ceremony in Laghman province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The 13-year international mission led by the United States and NATO ended on Dec. 31 with Afghan forces now in charge of national security in the midst of an intensified Taliban insurgency. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
On November 19, the Afghan Army Special Forces rescued 30 hostages during a raid on Taliban prison in Nawzad district of Helmand province in the southern part of Afghanistan, according to the Afghan Tolo TV. The Voice Of America (VOA) broadcasting service reported that “foreign” special forces participated in the army raid.
Afghan officials said that 20 people had been arrested by the Taliban for helping the Afghan government or because they were related to members of the Afghan Army and Police according to VOA. The official also revealed that 4 children under the age of 12 and 2 policemen were among the people who were freed during the raid.
From its side, the Taliban news agency Voice of Jihad said that the Afghan Army freed 41 hostages during the raid, not only 30 as the Afghan officials claimed. The Taliban claimed that the rescued hostages were criminals who had committed “various crimes”.
“There wasn’t anyone belonging to the enemy in that prison and there wasn’t enough security for it,” Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said in an official statement.
Afghan activists believe that the Taliban has dozens of illegal jails in its areas all over Afghanistan. Contrary to what Voice of Jihad and Taliban spokesman said, the Taliban usually abduct and jail people for political and religious reasons.