KABUL: Reports emerging from Kabul suggest that the Afghan Taliban are sheltering leaders of internationally designated militant groups within the city’s diplomatic district, a move critics say mirrors tactics used during the group’s earlier insurgency in the 1990s.
Senior figures linked to terrorist organisations are reportedly being hosted inside Kabul’s diplomatic enclave, particularly in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of the capital’s Green Zone, which houses embassies, international organisations and residences of diplomats, reports Dispatch News Desk (DND), an international news agency providing comprehensive coverage of national and international affairs with a strong focus on Pakistan, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Critics believe the alleged move is aimed at protecting terrorist leaders from potential targeted operations by Pakistan or other regional actors. Observers note that the Taliban used a similar approach during the Afghan civil war. In September 1995, Taliban fighters reportedly stayed overnight at the “German Club” in Kabul, an international compound considered unlikely to be attacked because of the presence of foreign nationals.
Security and intelligence reports
Security and intelligence reports circulating in regional media claim that individuals linked to Fitna al Khwarij ( Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) and other networks may currently be operating from locations near the diplomatic enclave. Among those reportedly present are TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud, terrorist commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Baloch terrorist figure Bashir Zeb, and terrorists from Central Asian countries.
Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir has also referred to similar claims, saying that diplomats and staff from international organisations in Kabul have privately raised concerns with Taliban authorities about armed terrorists operating near diplomatic compounds. According to Mir, some UN personnel and international NGO staff have expressed security concerns and are considering relocating if the situation worsens.
International reports
International reports indicate that Afghanistan continues to host multiple terrorist organisations with regional and global agendas.
According to the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, more than 20 terrorist groups are believed to be operating in Afghanistan, maintaining training facilities, logistical networks and safe havens across various provinces.
Groups frequently cited in UN and Western intelligence assessments include Al-Qaeda (AQ), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP/ISIS-K), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)/Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), Katibat Imam al-Bukhari (KIB), Islamic Jihad Group (IJG) and Jamaat Ansarullah.
Countries including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia and China have repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to remove terrorist groups they consider a threat to regional security.
Similarly, assessments by the US Department of Defense and the US intelligence community have warned that Afghanistan risks becoming a safe haven for transnational terrorist groups.
US congressional report
A 2023 US congressional report stated that while ISIS-K remains the most visible threat internationally, al-Qaeda affiliates and other regional organisations continue to maintain networks across Afghanistan.
According to the US Treasury Department, al-Qaeda leaders have been able to operate within Afghanistan under Taliban protection, maintaining communication channels and facilitating recruitment and training.
Security analysts warn that the continued presence of multiple terrorist organisations could pose wider regional threats extending beyond Pakistan.
Governments in Central Asia have also expressed concern about terrorist groups composed of Uzbek, Tajik and Uyghur fighters operating within Afghanistan. Russia, China and several Central Asian states have repeatedly raised the issue in international forums.
Observers say the situation presents a complex challenge for the global community. Unlike the period after 9/11, when a large multinational military coalition operated in Afghanistan, there is currently no unified international military presence in the country.
Analysts emphasise that greater counterterrorism cooperation and international engagement will be necessary to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hub for transnational terrorism.
