LASHKARGAH (SW): 45-year old Abdul Sammad never thought in his wildest dreams that he would be liberated from the Taliban’s prison one day.
Spending more than 18 months in captivity, Abdul Samad lost hope for life before the Afghan Special Forces raided the Taliban’s prison in southern Helmand’s Nawzad district. The militants were all set to execute Abdul Samad and his 11 companions the very next day on the charges of espionage when the ASF came for their rescue.
In an exclusive interview with Salam Watandar during his brief stay at the Shorab Military Base, Abdul Samad shared his thoughts about his captivity in the dark and frightening Taliban prison. Abdul Samad said when he first spoke with his brother on phone from here; he could not gather his thoughts. “I was all shivering, not believing in the fact that I was a free man now, I told my brother that I am alive and the security forces would soon bring me back home”, he explained.
Thanking the government forces, he said a number of civilian still remain in the Taliban custody. Last week, the ASF rescued some 60 individuals who had spent years in captivity. The operation jointly conducted by the U.S. Special Forces and the ASF was carried out on December 05. This was the first time such a large number of prisoners have been liberated from the Taliban’s custody.
Helmand remains one among the worst militancy-hit provinces in Afghanistan.
ENDS
