When the Taliban won back control of the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar last month, they set out to settle a score with an old foe.

As they searched for prominent local politician Ajmal Omar ¡ª who had helped drive the militants out of a Nangarhar district a year earlier and tried to dissuade young Afghans from joining them ¡ª Taliban members detonated explosives at his ancestral home.

They also looted gold and cars, and detained and whipped several of his relatives to try and establish his whereabouts.