WASHINGTON – American and Czech troops are being investigated for the death of an Afghan commando, who was allegedly tortured by NATO troops in western Afghanistan, a US-based media outlet reported.
The deceased commando named Wahidullah Khan was accused of killing a Czech soldier, Cpl. Tomáš Procházka, stationed in Afghanistan during an insider attack, which took place at Shindand air base, Herat, in October. Two other Czech soldiers were also injured in the attack.
According to The New York Times, the attacker was detained within hours by Afghan forces. They then handed over him to NATO custody.
When he was shifted to Afghan custody later that night, he was unconscious with torture marks on his body.
He died a short time later, Afghan officials told The Times.
A team from the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group, which transferred Khan to the custody of Czech soldiers, has been withdrawn from Afghanistan as the probe is underway. It is yet to be known if any US soldier tortured the commando.
Col. Dave Butler, a spokesman for the American-led mission in Afghanistan, told the newspaper that investigation is being conducted but declined to share further details.
The American military “will investigate to determine whether any potential misconduct occurred, and we will hold individuals accountable, as appropriate,’’ Colonel Butler said in a statement on Monday.
Jan Pejsek, a spokesman for the Czech Ministry of Defense, also denied the allegations of torture, stating: “we strongly deny any such accusations” that Czech troops were involved in the death of the commando.
“There is an ongoing standard investigation regarding the insider attack incident. All respective parties are involved in the procedures,” Pejsek said.
Wakil Ahmad Karokhi, a member of the Herat provincial council, said he did not know whether Czech or American forces beaten Khan, the report added.
“From what we know, that soldier died of torture,” Mr. Karokhi said. “He was beaten up before being handed over to Afghan forces.”
Father of the deceased Khan talking to the media outlet said, “When we washed him, he had no bullet wounds but his entire body was bruised”.
Mr. Khan had been in an Afghan commando unit for about 13 months, according to his brother, Hayaturahman Khan. After graduating from high school, he helped farm in his home district of Kot, driving a tractor. But after Islamic State forces nearly captured the district, Mr. Khan joined the Afghan army and was selected for the elite commando force.
