Kabul: Afghanistan's intelligence agency
on Saturday rejected an allegation that its agents had beaten an
inmate almost to death during interrogation in southeastern
Afghanistan.
One week ago the National Directorate of Security (NDS)
said it had launched a probe into claims reported by the New
York Times that the beating of the inmate, a preacher, caused
kidney failure and other internal injuries.
The suspect was detained in late September in the eastern
province of Khost and the agency had sent a delegation there,
led by one of its deputies, to investigate the matter.
"After a thorough investigation and with the information
gathered by the joint delegation, we confirm that the
allegation is totally baseless and no beating or torture ever
took place there", NDS said in a statement.
The allegations come shortly after the United Nations said
in a report that torture is practiced systematically in some
Afghan intelligence detention centres.
The UN said it had "compelling evidence" that Afghan
intelligence officials at five centres "systematically
tortured detainees for the purpose of obtaining confessions
and information".
The Afghan government has rejected the allegations.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 20:47