Taliban urge ex-Afghan military pilots to stay, serve nation

By RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A top Taliban official has urged former Afghan military pilots to remain in the country, saying they are protected by a national amnesty and would not face arrest. Wednesday’s comments came a day after dozens of U.S.-trained pilots and other Afghans were flown out of Tajikistan in a U.S.-arranged evacuation. The Afghans had sought refuge in Tajikistan as the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August. Afghan air force pilots played a key role in the 20-year war against Taliban insurgents. Separately, another Taliban official says the group has arrested close to 600 members of the militant Islamic State group in connection with recent attacks.