The victims were members of an Afghan Special Forces unit: their executioners, the Taliban.
After a fierce battle to hold the town, they the commandos had run out of ammunition and were surrounded by the Taliban fighters, witnesses said.
The Taliban posted a video three days after the fighting in Dawlat Abad, showing the seizure of military trucks and weapons.
The Taliban told CNN the videos showing the commandos being shot were fake and government propaganda to encourage people not to surrender.
A Taliban spokesman said they were still holding 24 commandos who had been captured in Faryab province but provided no evidence.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense denied the Taliban was holding the commandos and told CNN they were killed.
Afghan security personnel stand guard as Afghan security forces fight the Taliban in Kandahar on July 9. »
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