MAIMANA (SW): My father gifted me to the Taliban to make me a suicide bomber and kill one of government’s officials.
These are the words of Zakria, 12 years old, and escaped Taliban and fled to security forces based in Qaisar district in the northern Faryaab province.
Mohammad Shah, his father, is one of key Taliban fighters in Faryaab. Taliban told me” carry out a suicide attack and that way you will go to the paradise because this is a reward for young suicide bombers.”
Nezamuddin, Qaisar Police Chief, told Salam Watandar that this young boy has been molested by the Taliban several times.
Sayed Aqa Andarabi, Police Chief in Faryaab, said that Zakria was sold to the Taliban at afn 700,000 and was trained by the group to carry out suicide attacks.
Zakria said that he was trained along with other 6 children. He said that Abdul Qayum, one of top Taliban commanders in Faryaab pays money to the families of the young boys and train them as suicide bombers.
Sayed Aqa Andarabi said that it shows Taliban’s weakness to recruit children and blamed poverty for families selling their children to become suicide bombers.
Taliban have yet to comment in this regard.
According to the United Nations Child Rights Convention, anyone who is under 18 is considered as a child and abusing them is illegal.
Based on some reports, children in Afghanistan especially in the remote provinces where Taliban have control in some areas, are badly exploited and their rights are violated.
ENDS
