“Threat and promise”: Taliban messages to Afghan translators

The Taliban have summoned Afghan translators who worked for the Netherlands to appear in court and threatened to punish their relatives if they fail to do so.

The Taliban letter, aired by the official Dutch news channel NOS, said that the translators had gone into hiding, but that their family members would be held responsible if they were not brought to court “in order to inflict severe punishment on them so that other traitors may learn a lesson.”

The man who received the letter was a Europol employee in Afghanistan and is accused of receiving “banned and shameful funds” from foreigners, the channel said.

“We will retaliate, and if we cannot catch you, we will settle the account with your relatives,” read another message received by an interpreter who was accused by the Taliban of being responsible for the deaths of some of its members.

NOS reported that all indications show that the letters with official stamps were sent by the Taliban.

It had contacted about 10 translators or persons who had previously worked with the Dutch, all of whom had expressed that their situation was becoming more difficult.

In June, the Taliban urged those who had worked with foreign forces to repent, but asked them to stay in Afghanistan after foreign troops withdrew, saying they would not be harmed.

Immediately after taking power, the Taliban announced a general amnesty for Afghan government and military officials.

“But despite its pledge not to retaliate, a confidential UN report said the Taliban were pursuing people who had worked with foreign forces.”