Pakistani President's Spokesperson Calls Taliban 'Brainless Beasts' Over Exhumation of Former Soldier's Body in Oruzgan

Mortaza Solangi, spokesperson for the Pakistani president, described the Taliban as "brainless beasts" in response to the exhumation of a former military officer's body from its grave in Oruzgan province.

Solangi reposted on X a report stating that Taliban members in Oruzgan exhumed the body of Siddiqullah, a soldier from the former government, from the martyrs' cemetery in Trinkot market, decapitated it, and desecrated the grave. He wrote: "This is why I call them brainless beasts."

The Taliban police command in Oruzgan confirmed that on Saturday night, Siddiqullah's body was removed from its grave in the Trinkot martyrs' cemetery. The family told Afghanistan International that Taliban forces destroyed the grave in the provincial center and pulled out the body. Videos received by the outlet show the grave completely destroyed with the burial chamber exposed, confirming the body was exhumed.

This marks the second time Solangi has used the term, previously in reaction to a report of 6,660 Afghans killed in nearly four years under Taliban rule.

Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqub, speaking on Sunday at an event marking the anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in Kabul, urged Taliban members not to act in ways that would lead rational people to call them insane. He advised them to consider the future and leave a proud history, not one of shame stained black or red.

Afghan social media users and activists reacted critically. Lina Rozbeh, a civil society activist and journalist, expressed surprise and said Mullah Yaqub should first advise his own terrorists, noting Taliban engage in revenge killings. The 8Subh newspaper questioned the gap between Taliban officials' words on unity and their actions, suggesting their unity means obedience, not participation. Afghanistan Peace and Justice Movement issued a statement on internal disagreements over political strategy.