The Taliban’s False Amnesty

Abstract

The Taliban have been working hard to project a moderate image, promising that they have changed since they last ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. To that end, one of their first orders of business after seizing Kabul was the proclamation of a general amnesty for all, including those who worked with the “opposition” or supported the “occupiers.” Despite wielding power for just a few weeks, however, there is already mounting evidence of Taliban retribution. While the Taliban’s PR machine has grown more sophisticated since the 1990s, their core ideology and modus operandi remain unaltered and continue to inspire other Islamist militant groups. Their perfidious amnesty policy reveals the Taliban’s true nature, and underscores the ever-rampant culture of impunity in Afghanistan.

Keywords: Afghanistan, Taliban, National Security, Terrorism, Amnesty, Impunity, Human Rights