Kevin Cornwell, a British aid worker and former army doctor, has shared details of his 272-day detention by the Taliban in an interview with The Sun newspaper.
Cornwell, who was working with the United Nations refugee agency in Kabul at the time of his arrest, said Taliban forces detained him in January 2023 and subjected him to months of interrogation, solitary confinement, physical abuse, and psychological pressure.
According to his account, Taliban members confiscated 12,000 US dollars in cash and electronic equipment during his arrest before blindfolding him and transferring him to a detention facility.
The British aid worker alleged that he was repeatedly beaten during interrogations and pressured to sign confessions accusing him of espionage and cooperation with the British government.
Cornwell also claimed that he witnessed severe mistreatment of other prisoners, including cases involving electric shocks and harsh forms of punishment.
He said his own health deteriorated significantly during detention and that kidney-related medical problems, combined with limited access to medication, resulted in several hospital transfers.
According to Cornwell, he was eventually released in October 2023 together with several other detainees.
He further alleged that the release of the prisoners followed a payment worth 120 million pounds, although this claim has not been independently verified.
The Taliban have not publicly responded to the allegations.
Despite describing his imprisonment as a deeply traumatic experience, Cornwell said he continues to hold affection for the people of Afghanistan and would be willing to return for humanitarian work if the Taliban were no longer in power.
His account adds to broader international concerns raised by human rights organizations regarding detention conditions, treatment of prisoners, and due process in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power.
