Taliban under fire for hosting designated terrorists in Kabul’s Diplomatic Hub: Report

ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP):Recent reports emerging from Kabul indicate that the Afghan Taliban are adopting a tactic similar to those they employed during their 1990s insurgency: positioning themselves or their terrorist allies in areas deemed too sensitive or protected for opponents to strike.

Security officials and regional analysts report that high-ranking figures from globally proscribed terrorist organizations are allegedly being sheltered by the Taliban within Kabul’s tightly guarded diplomatic quarter, especially in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of the Green Zone, according to a media report.

Critics interpret this as a deliberate effort to protect these militant leaders from potential targeted actions by Pakistan or other neighboring states. This approach echoes historical patterns from the Afghan civil war era; for instance, in September 1995, Taliban fighters reportedly used the “German Club”—an international site in Kabul—as overnight accommodation, knowing rival Afghan groups would avoid attacking it due to the risk to foreign personnel.

Today’s observers note that the current tactic closely resembles this older method: situating key militant personalities in zones where any military action could provoke serious diplomatic repercussions or endanger civilians.

According to intelligence-based claims circulating in regional media and security circles, several figures associated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist networks are currently operating from locations within or close to Kabul’s diplomatic enclave. These reportedly include TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud, militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Baloch militant figure Bashir Zeb, as well as militants originating from Central Asian states.

The area of concern is primarily Wazir Akbar Khan, a district that hosts embassies, international organizations, and residences of diplomats and UN staff. Placing global terrorists in this zone would significantly complicate any attempt by foreign governments to conduct kinetic operations against them.

A prominent Pakistani journalist has also publicly referred to similar claims, stating that international organizations and diplomatic personnel working in Kabul have privately raised concerns with the Taliban authorities regarding the presence of armed terrorists near diplomatic compounds.

According to the journalisty, some United Nations personnel and international NGO staff have expressed security concerns and are considering relocating from the area if the situation deteriorates further.

The Afghan Taliban leadership has repeatedly denied that TTP members operating in Afghanistan should be considered terrorists.

In a recent interview, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, Afghanistan’s acting defense minister and son of the late Taliban founder Mullah Omar, described TTP members as “refugees” rather than terrorists/militants.

“Who can explain to Pakistan that your terrorist is not our terrorist?” Yaqoob remarked, suggesting that the Taliban government does not share Islamabad’s designation of the group. However, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is recognized as a terrorist organization internationally. The United Nations Security Council, the United States, and several other governments have designated the group as responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings and assaults on civilians, security forces, and educational institutions.

Yaqoob’s statement effectively confirmed that TTP members are present inside Afghanistan, though he framed their presence as that of displaced individuals rather than organized militants.

Analysts note striking parallels between the Taliban’s current position and the stance taken by the group prior to the US-led intervention in Afghanistan in 2001.

After the September 11 attacks, the international community demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda who was accused of orchestrating the attacks. At the time, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar (father of Mullah Yaqoob) refused, describing bin Laden as a “guest” under the protection of Afghan traditions of hospitality.

The Taliban government at the time maintained that bin Laden had taken refuge in Afghanistan and would not be surrendered to the United States without evidence presented in an Islamic court. The refusal ultimately led to the U.S.-led military intervention in Afghanistan in October 2001. Under the banner of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a coalition of more than 50 countries participated in the campaign against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

Nearly a quarter century later, critics argue that similar reasoning is again being used by the Taliban leadership to justify the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan.

Multiple international reports indicate that Afghanistan remains home to a wide range of militant organizations 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. These organizations maintain training facilities, logistical networks, and safe havens across different provinces.

Groups frequently cited in UN and Western intelligence assessments include Al-Qaeda (AQ), Tehrik-e-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 (Tajik militant group).

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia and China have also demanded Afghan Taliban to purge terrorists groups that are constant threat to Central Asia, China, Russia and Pakistan but Afghan Taliban deny that they host ‘terrorists’ and claim ‘some members of certain organizations are taking refuge in Afghanistan as they are banned in their respective countries (such as China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Pakistan.

The UN Security Council Monitoring Team report (2023–2024) noted that al-Qaeda continues to maintain ties with the Taliban and operates training facilities in multiple Afghan provinces. The report also stated that foreign fighters from Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia remain active in the country.

Similarly, the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. intelligence community assessments have warned that Afghanistan risks becoming a safe haven for transnational terrorist groups. A 2023 U.S. congressional report stated that while ISIS-K remains the most visible external threat, al-Qaeda affiliates and regional militant organizations continue to maintain networks across the country.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, al-Qaeda leaders have been able to operate inside Afghanistan under Taliban protection, maintaining communication networks and facilitating recruitment and training.

Security analysts warn that the presence of multiple militant organizations inside Afghanistan could pose a broader regional threat extending beyond Pakistan. The Central Asian governments have also expressed concerns about militant groups composed of Uzbek, Tajik, and Uyghur fighters operating inside 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 international community. Unlike the period following 9/11, when a large multinational military coalition operated in Afghanistan, there is currently no unified global military presence in the country.

As a result, regional actors, particularly Pakistan have increasingly found themselves on the frontline in confronting militant groups that operate across porous borders. Analysts argue that counterterrorism cooperation and international engagement will be critical in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a hub for transnational militancy.