As soon as, Kabul’s fundamental jail was crowded with 1000’s of Taliban captured and arrested by the federal government. On Monday, a Taliban commander strolled by means of its empty halls and cell blocks, exhibiting his mates the place he had as soon as been imprisoned.
It was an indication of the sudden and startling new order in Afghanistan after the group swept into the capital almost a month in the past and threw out a crumbling, US-backed authorities it had fought for 20 years.
The Taliban now runs Pul-e-Charkhi Jail, a sprawling advanced on Kabul’s jap outskirts. After capturing the town, the fighters freed all of the inmates there, the federal government guards fled, and now dozens of Taliban fighters are working the power.
The commander, who refused to provide his identify, was on a private go to to the advanced with a bunch of his mates. He mentioned he had been arrested about 10 years in the past in jap Kunar province and was delivered to Pul-e-Charkhi, sure and blindfolded.
“I really feel so horrible once I bear in mind these days,” he mentioned.
He mentioned prisoners suffered abuses and torture. He was imprisoned for about 14 months earlier than he was launched. “These days are the darkest days of my life, and now this the happiest second for me that I’m free and are available right here with out concern.”
Many Afghans in addition to governments all over the world have been alarmed by the swift Taliban seizure of energy, fearing the motion will impose an identical, harsh rule as they did throughout their first time ruling within the Nineties.
However for the Taliban fighters, it’s a second to savour a victory after years of gruelling preventing – and to see a metropolis few of them have entered because the conflict started.
Pul-e-Charkhi had a protracted, disturbing historical past of violence, mass executions and torture. Mass graves and torture cells have been uncovered relationship from the Soviet-backed governments of the late Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties.
Beneath the US-backed authorities, it was higher identified for poor circumstances and overcrowding – its 11 cell blocks have been constructed to accommodate 5,000 inmates, however have been typically filled with greater than 10,000, together with Taliban prisoners and criminals.
Taliban prisoners typically complained of abuses and beatings, and there have been common riots. Nonetheless, they stored up their organisation behind bars, profitable concessions like entry to cell phones and longer time exterior their cells.
A number of the Taliban now guarding the positioning have been former inmates. The federal government guards have fled and don’t dare to return, fearing reprisals.