An Afghan human rights advocate, Noorayel Kaliwal, says he was detained by Taliban intelligence after criticising Pakistan, according to a statement he shared on social media.
Kaliwal said he was arrested in March 2023 in Helmand province. He said he was held for 18 days in undisclosed conditions before being brought before a court.
He added that details of the alleged mistreatment have not been disclosed, even to members of his own family.
Images shared online
Kaliwal said one of the images circulating online was taken secretly while he was in custody and waiting to appear before a judge. Another image, he said, shows him on the first day after his release, following nearly four months in detention.
Questions over detentions
In his statement, Kaliwal questioned why individuals are still being detained for criticising Pakistan, despite reports of tensions between the Taliban and Pakistani authorities.
He suggested that others may also be facing detention over similar accusations.
