Australia has joined a United States-led group of Western nations and allies in condemning the Taliban over the "summary killings" of former members of the Afghan security forces reported by rights groups.
"We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces as documented by Human Rights Watch and others," released by the US State Department, and signed onto by Australia, the European Union, Britain, Japan and others.
"We underline that the alleged actions constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban's announced amnesty," the group of nations said, as it called on Afghanistan's new rulers to ensure the amnesty is enforced and "upheld across the country and throughout their ranks."
Early this week Human Rights Watch released a report that it says documents the summary execution or enforced disappearance of 47 former members of the Afghan National Security Forces, other military personnel, police and intelligence agents "who had surrendered to or were apprehended by Taliban forces" from mid-August through October.
"Reported cases must be investigated promptly and in a transparent manner, those responsible must be held accountable, and these steps must be clearly publicised as an immediate deterrent to further killings and disappearances," the countries - which also include Canada, New Zealand, Romania, Ukraine and several European nations - said in the statement.
The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August as the US-backed government in Kabul and the country's military collapsed.
The US held talks with Taliban officials earlier this week when it urged the hardline Islamist group to provide access to education for women and girls across the country.
It also "expressed deep concern regarding allegations of human rights abuses," a US spokesman said.
