Taliban Deputy Visits Bagram Prison After Torture Allegations

DID Press: Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, visited Bagram Prison following international reports alleging torture and abuse of detainees, directing prison officials to improve conditions and address prisoners’ concerns.

Hanafi led a delegation to the detention facility on Saturday, inspecting prison conditions, healthcare services, food distribution, detainee accommodation, and the handling of inmates’ grievances, according to a Taliban statement.

The statement said Hanafi met with several prisoners, listened to their concerns, and instructed prison authorities to take the necessary measures to improve conditions and resolve outstanding issues.

The visit comes after the Global Torture Index 2026 classified Afghanistan as facing a “very high risk” of torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention. The report alleged that torture and inhumane treatment have become widespread in detention facilities operated by the Taliban, with some detainees reportedly held in metal shipping containers without adequate access to food, water, or basic services.

The report also alleged that detainees have been subjected to torture and degrading treatment during interrogations, while the absence of effective accountability mechanisms has allowed such practices to persist.

Human rights organizations, including Rawadari, have previously raised similar concerns, alleging widespread abuse in Taliban-run detention centers and warning that prisoners lack effective mechanisms to file complaints or seek legal redress.