Afghan warlord gets 20 years for ‘brutal’ campaign of torture

AFGHAN warlord Faryadi Zardad was jailed for 20 years by a British court yesterday for a “heinous and brutal” campaign of torture and hostage-taking in his homeland.

The Old Bailey judge, Mr Justice Treacy, told him that the crimes of which he had been convicted "transgressed the basic rights of humanity." He said Zardad had been in "a position of real power."

"You were personally involved in these acts of torture and hostage-taking as well as authorising your men," the judge told him.