Taliban has threatened to execute former government officials in retaliation for their actions, and people have been warned of mass arrests

            The Taliban has threatened to assassinate former government officials in retaliation for their actions.

In retaliation to the recent executions of Taliban leaders, Taliban authorities in Afghanistan’s Helmand region have vowed to kill activists and former government officials, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In Helmand, the Taliban have increased surveillance and stated that they will retaliate if Taliban leaders are attacked again.

Patricia Gossman of Human Rights Watch said, “Taliban commanders in Helmand should not be reacting to attacks with threats of criminal penalties”. According to her, international law bans reprisal strikes on civilians, which are otherwise unlawful assaults carried out as a form of retaliation. The Taliban has enhanced its monitoring of persons and organisations it considers to be “against the Islamic Emirate”. According to Afghan activists, the Taliban in Helmand have escalated their monitoring of persons and organisations they believe are “opposed to the Islamic Emirate”.