The Doha Agreement obligated the Taliban to cut their connections with regional and international terrorist groups. Despite this commitment, with the Taliban’s return to power, concerns have been raised by the United Nations Security Council, United States, Russia, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and other security bodies regarding the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. A report from the Hasht-e Subh Daily, two years after the Taliban’s resurgence, reveals that a considerable number of regional jihadists, along with their families, are actively operating within Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
These findings indicate that approximately 300 families linked to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Ansarullah of Tajikistan have settled in the northeastern region, particularly in Badakhshan province. Reliable sources in eastern Afghanistan further verify that thousands of families associated with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants are currently residing under Taliban governance. Moreover, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) fighters, despite China’s backing of the Taliban, are capitalizing on the benefits of their presence in Afghanistan. Many of these militants maintain ties not only with the Taliban but also with Al-Qaeda.
Moreover, the Taliban not only incorporate certain jihadists into their own ranks but also furnish them with Afghan identification documents and passports, dispersing them across different regions of the nation. Intriguingly, these militants have also formed familial connections with Afghan households to strengthen their foothold under Taliban governance in Afghanistan.
The United States and the Taliban signed the Doha Agreement on February 29, 2020. As per this agreement, the Taliban committed to halting the activities of insurgent groups, especially Al-Qaeda, within Afghanistan. The agreement’s second part focuses on provisions concerning jihadist group operations. According to these terms, the Taliban are obligated to prevent the presence of individuals and groups in Afghanistan that pose threats to the United States and its allies. While the agreement cites Al-Qaeda as an example, it encompasses other jihadist groups too. The agreement explicitly forbids the Taliban from collaborating with or hosting these groups. Furthermore, the agreement includes a reminder for the Taliban to comply with international migration laws and commitments when dealing with refugees or those seeking residency in Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban’s resurgence, several countries have raised concerns regarding Afghanistan’s situation. The United States, Russia, China, and select Central Asian nations are notably apprehensive. Despite this, the Taliban steadfastly reassures these nations that Afghanistan harbors no jihadist groups. They reject the presence of ISIS and other such groups on Afghan soil. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban, affirmed at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI), that not a single terrorist group operates within Afghanistan. Nonetheless, a lingering query remains: Do jihadists maintain a foothold in Afghanistan following the Doha Agreement?
Unveiling Al-Qaeda: The Presence Exposed by Ayman al-Zawahiri
One of the groups that causes widespread concern among many countries is Al-Qaeda, which they believe should not be present in Afghanistan. The Doha Agreement directly addresses this issue, with the United States securing a commitment from the Taliban to sever ties with this group. However, the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan exposed a remarkably close relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda—one that not even the Doha Agreement managed to break. Even prior to al-Zawahiri’s demise, suspicions lingered about the Taliban’s intentions. The United Nations Security Council repeatedly asserted that the Taliban maintained connections with Al-Qaeda militants. During that time, reports indicated that Al-Qaeda operated in 15 provinces across Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda members usually assumed a secondary role in battles alongside the Taliban, primarily focusing on offering guidance and training. Now, with the Taliban’s resurgence to power, this group’s members are inclined to rejuvenate their network and leverage the Taliban’s rule.
Zawahiri’s Letter to bin Laden, discussed in the Hasht-e Subh Daily during the reexamination of the Abbottabad case, indicates that Al-Qaeda does not intend to leave the Afghan geographical sphere under any circumstances. In the letter, Zawahiri states that Al-Qaeda must remain close to the Taliban leadership and work on building trust. Conversely, the letter also demonstrates the commitment of the Taliban leadership to preserve and support Al-Qaeda. While the undeniable presence of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is evident, determining the exact number of individuals in this network remains challenging. The Taliban even deny the presence of a single Al-Qaeda member and have made significant efforts to conceal the identities of these individuals.
However, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) of the previous government recently reported that around 300 Al-Qaeda members are fighting alongside the Taliban in their conflict. The UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, on the other hand, has cited estimates ranging from 400 to 600 militants. Despite the Taliban’s concerted efforts over the years, particularly in the past two years, to avoid exposing the identities and locations of Al-Qaeda members, their active presence within the Taliban’s structures as advisors is a detail that the Taliban cannot conceal.
TTP and Sanctuaries on This Side of the Border
The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is also one of the insurgent groups aligned with the Taliban. These two groups share a deep bond, and their recent activities have demonstrated that both, adhering to a common ideology, have been collaborating against the republic system. In the past, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) provided refuge to the Afghan Taliban, but now the hosting role has shifted to the Afghan Taliban. Among all jihadist groups worldwide, they are the sole entity with territorial control. Alongside their close interaction and alignment with the Taliban, the Pakistani government has repeatedly urged the Taliban to deny sanctuary to the TTP within Afghan soil. In response, the Taliban asserts that no foreign jihadist group has a place in Afghanistan and poses no threat to other countries.
However, the findings of the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that around 10,000 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants are present in Afghanistan with their families. Most of these militants, along with their families, reside in the districts of Goshta, Bati Kot, and Lal Pur in Nangarhar province; areas close to the Durand Line, which provide convenient movement for TTP. According to local sources, while many TTP militants have been in these areas, particularly in the Salalah region, for several years, their numbers have increased after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Sources state that TTP militants and their families are present in regions like Salalah, Mama Khel, Ziarat-e Dagh, Zharai, and Ograi of the Goshta district, where they fulfill their basic needs from the markets of the Goshta district.
Most of these militants, who are also believed to be part of the Taliban’s reserve forces, have traveled from Lal Pur district in Nangarhar to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan to wage war against the Pakistani government. An informed source, who prefers anonymity in the report, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily: “Many of them have gone from Lal Pur mainly to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I know a commander who recently went with 30 individuals. The commander is known as Naaser, with the pseudonym Qahraman, he is for the Spin Tankai area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Other commanders are named Bismillah and Enayatullah. Another one is known as Mullah Piran, originally from Swat, who is currently residing in Kashkot and Gaurik areas. Now the Emirates (Afghan Taliban) members also take the TTP’s seal of approval and head to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming to wage jihad. This was a statement from a TTP commander who was saying that the Afghan Taliban have declared jihad against Pakistan.”
On January 4, 2023, Pakistan conducted an aerial attack on the Salala area, but its Foreign Ministry denied responsibility. However, local sources and non-governmental individuals in the Goshta district confirm Pakistan’s airstrikes on the positions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to them, the attack took place in an area where families of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were residing. Local sources stated that after the bombing, flames and smoke were observed in the region. The exact casualties of this event were not publicly disclosed, as the Taliban warned people not to discuss the matter among themselves. A source informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “No one can raise their voice out of fear, and [people] don’t talk about it among themselves.”
Nonetheless, a recorded audio tape came into the possession of the Hasht-e Subh Daily in which members of the Taliban discuss the attack on TTP positions in the Arazi bazaar. The United Nations Security Council also confirmed the presence of TTP militants on Afghan soil in a report. The monitoring committee of the UN Security Council referred to the TTP as the “largest constituent” of the Taliban. According to the report, the TTP has between 3,000 to 4,000 militants in Afghanistan. The report identifies Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud as the current leader of the TTP and based on that, the TTP has become stronger and can pose a bigger threat in the region. However, Fazal Ur Rehman Khattak, the leader of the National Awami Party (NAP), in a conversation with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, regards the TTP as an inseparable part of the Afghan Taliban. He states, “The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is an inseparable part of the Afghan Taliban. This organizational distinction between them required intelligence games so that the international community would not see their bases within Pakistan as the Afghan Taliban’s region. Like before, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) exists in Afghanistan.” Khattak also confirms the presence of thousands of TTP militants in Afghanistan, saying, “Regarding their numbers, it’s difficult to be certain, but their count is not less than a few thousand.” Last year, this Pakistani politician mentioned in a special interview with the Hasht-e Subh Daily that most ISIS members are militants of the TTP. Meanwhile, Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) of Afghanistan, mentioned the presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan in his speech at the Herat Security Conference which was held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. In his speech, Mr. Nabil stated: “Currently, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), under the leadership of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, are active along the Durand Line, with six to six and a half thousand militants.”
Northern Afghanistan: Base of Operations for Tajik and Uzbek Militants
The presence of Central Asian militants in the northern part of the country was a contentious issue in the former government. Security sources claimed the presence of dozens of foreign insurgent groups in Badakhshan province. At that time, the Khostak Valley in the Jurm District of Badakhshan province hosted around 300 Central Asian militant families. However, after the collapse of the Republic system, most of these foreign groups redirected toward the central parts of districts and cities in the northeastern region of Afghanistan. A source informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “During the Republic regime, [foreign militants] were here in Khostak, and now they’ve all moved down to the valley. The majority of their families have gone to the province of Takhār. Another group has gone to the forests of Imam Sahib district in Kunduz province. About 20 to 30 families have gone to Baharak district. A few families are located in Fayzabad City. Five families have gone to Jurm District. Similarly, they’ve moved away from the Khostak Valley because no one is dealing with them, so they’re not causing any disturbances. They operate freely and conduct their activities normally. Another group of them has gone to Kalafgan District in Balkh province.”
Meanwhile, according to another informed source from Badakhshan province, the number of foreign militants present in the Ragh district of Badakhshan province, along with their families, amounts to around 200 to 250 individuals. This source states that the conditions for living and operations have been established for these groups in various districts and urban centers, and as a result, they are attempting to spread out across different densely populated areas. The source adds, “The number of foreign militants in Ragh has reached around 200 individuals. They are Tajiks, they are Uzbeks. Khostak Valley used to be their center, but now they have dispersed; they have come to the district of Raghistan, and they are seeking refuge. Some of them have gone to the Imam Sahib district in Kunduz province with their families. They are also present in Fayzabad city. A group of them is in the Maimay area too.”
Another source confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that a significant number of these groups have received support from the Taliban and have established family ties. This source adds, “Most of them have obtained Afghan identity cards with the help of the Taliban. Several Tajiks [Tajikistani militants] have obtained ID cards in Fayzabad City. A number of them have obtained ID cards in various districts.” The source states that around 20 families of Tajikistani Taliban members are living in three villages in the Ragh district. The source elaborates, “Two families among them have married locally, giving and taking daughters of each other. They are living in areas like Sefidab, Dahn Shala, and Khonilar. Similarly, they have dispersed across various areas of Badakhshan province. They have a strong interest in Ragh district due to its gold resources. These people [foreign militants] possess resources and capital. Their true intentions and plans remain unknown. The situation is quite complex.” The source further revealed, “Before the fall of Badakhshan province to the hands of the Taliban, the center of foreign militants was in Khostak valley. A person named Gul Heidar Shafaq has conducted major coordination. Another person named Abdul Rahim is involved. These two Tajiks have plans in this region, but it’s unclear what they are doing.”
Referring to the killing of a commander from the Tajikistan border forces at the Afghanistan border, a source states, “A group of them, who were in Maimay, around 6 to 8 individuals, intended to intimidate the Tajiks, transfer their substances [drugs], and monitor the situation. They went for sabotage but clashed with Tajik security forces, resulting in the death of two and the return of four. Foreign militants who were in Badakhshan province have mostly gone to Imam Sahib district in Kunduz province, where they have established training centers. Their number exceeds a thousand. They have centralized their operations there, focusing on training and procuring military equipment. It appears significant plans have been laid for Central Asia, but no one dares to voice concern.”
Another source tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily that those families of foreign militants who have come to Faizabad City, the center of Badakhshan province, live in the area close to the “former national army recruitment center”. Additionally, according to the source, foreign militants who previously collaborated with the Taliban against former security forces are now in command of the former National Army recruitment center. The source adds, “Foreigners have their base in the same recruitment and mobilization center. Foreign groups that were with the Taliban, of them are now in the former recruitment and mobilization center. They have a very limited presence within the city. They go out during the evening and night.” The source further states that some families of foreign militants in Badakhshan province are involved in arms trading and gold mining activities.
Meanwhile, one of the residents of Badakhshan province has shared his observation with the Hasht-e Subh Daily regarding the presence of foreign militants in Kunduz province. They report seeing individuals who cannot speak languages like Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, and Turkmen. According to this source, “It was a few months after the fall [of the previous government]. Our vehicle’s diesel pump was broken. They had just opened a square in the city of Kunduz. There was an automobile repair shop nearby. There were two vehicles packed with individuals. One of their vehicles was broken, so they took it inside the shop. They had a model of a fielder vehicle without a license plate with Left Hand Traffic (LHT). They were dressed in white clothes and wearing handmade traditional skullcaps. They were speaking among themselves, and we couldn’t comprehend. I think they might have been Uighur or Kazakh because they sounded similar to Russian or Kazakh. They had long beards, and their hair was machine-cut. They resembled local Turkmen, but they weren’t Turkmen because it was clear they had no familiarity with the people or the region. Everyone was saying that these are foreign Taliban.”
Simultaneously, sources in Badakhshan province reveal that most of the Tajikistani militants have gone to the forests of the Imam Sahib district, where they are engaged in training and planning. An informed source estimates the number of Tajik militants in this district to be around 30. According to them, the Taliban use these individuals as a means of pressuring Tajikistan. The source adds, “Their number is not more than 30. They have a couple of tanks. Some days, they go to Shir Khan Bandar with the Taliban. There, they showcase themselves to the Tajik trucks passing through the border. They engage in fishing in the Shir Khan Bandar River. Everyone knows them there because they are well-armed and possess American weapons. Tajiks believe they can conquer their country in a day. The Taliban employ them for psychological warfare and pressuring the Tajiks.”
A former government official with an in-depth understanding of the northeastern region of the country also informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily that all jihadist groups, including ISIS, Ansar Allah, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), are active in northern provinces, particularly the provinces of Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, Balkh, and Sar-e Pol. They added, “Under the Taliban’s protection, they have bases in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province in Spin Zar housing schemes, Shah Ron area, and other locations.”
Regarding the presence of leaders from ISIS, Ansar Allah, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the source stated, “Sheikh Abdul Haq Uighuri, responsible for the military network of ISIS, and Mullah Ibraheem, head of Ansar Allah militant group have military bases in Baghlan province. Furqan (one of their commanders) lives in the house of Commander Gul Ahmad in the vicinity of Central Silo in the city of Pul-e Khumri, the center of the province.”
Meanwhile, Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) of the former government of Afghanistan, stated that the Tajikistan Ansar Allah group, Jundallah group, and the Islamic Jihad group led by Alim Beg Mohammadov and the Tajik Taliban led by Mehdi Arsalan/Mohammad Sharifov are also present in northeastern Afghanistan, with around 200 to 300 militants. Informed and local sources in Badakhshan province also confirm the number of militants in these groups and state that they are mainly stationed in border areas with Tajikistan.
The Presence of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in Afghanistan
According to the findings of the Hasht-e Subh Daily, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is also actively present in Afghanistan. Haji Furqan, the overall commander of the military fronts of this group, spends most of his time in Faizabad City, the center of Badakhshan province. Informed and reliable sources confirm to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that this member of the leadership of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is currently residing in Faizabad city and his security is ensured by the Taliban. He has married in Badakhshan province and has acquired a forged identity and passport. This matter has also been confirmed by the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring committee report. The United Nations report states that Badakhshan province serves as the main base for this group. An individual named Abdul Haq al-Turkistani is responsible for leading this group.
Sources continue to confirm that this group is currently rebuilding its strongholds in the Wurduj district of Badakhshan province. A source tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily: “They have occupied the area and are reinforcing their strongholds. They control the region entirely.” The United Nations Security Council’s monitoring committee report also states that this group has reconstructed several strongholds in Badakhshan province and expanded its operational area. According to the report, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) has clandestinely procured arms to enhance its military capabilities.
Meanwhile, Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) of the former government of Afghanistan, estimates the number of militants in the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP/ETIM) to be around 700 to 800 individuals. Mr. Nabil has stated that the Uighur militants are led by Haji Furqan and Sheikh Abuzar, who are mostly active in the northern and northeastern regions of the country. Mr. Nabil also mentions that this group is active in the provinces of Badghis and Ghor, with an estimated 100 to 150 militants.
According to the United Nations Security Council’s Monitoring Committee report, it has been mentioned that this group is actively engaged in exchanging military experiences and manufacturing explosive materials in collaboration with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Ansarullah group. The Security Council’s report states that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is focusing its attacks on China’s interests in Afghanistan. The East Turkestan Islamic Movement’s (ETIM) primary goal is to establish an independent Islamic state for Uighurs in China and other Turkic-speaking groups in East China and Central Asia. While this group was previously listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, Washington removed it from the list last year.
Sources speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily claim that Haji Furqan is between 65 to 70 years old. One source states: “[Haji Furqan] mostly resembles Afghan Turkmens. He has a long beard, and a strong build, and is considered a religious scholar. He possesses eloquence and fluency, speaking fluent Persian. His preaching has had a significant impact in the areas he has operated in, attracting a larger following. The Taliban hold him in high respect. He has also trained the Taliban in using mines, explosives, and tanks during their fight against the former Afghan government.”
Another source, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, stated that Haji Furqan spent most of his time during the Republic era in the village of “Keyu” in the Jurm district, near the Khostak and Warduj valleys. This source added, “During the Republic era, Haji Furqan was a primary financial supporter of Qari Fasihuddin [the chief of staff of the armed forces of the Taliban]. To the extent that Furqan gave money to the Taliban in Badakhshan province, the Taliban themselves [the Taliban regime] did not provide financial assistance.” This source mentioned, “Furqan is currently on the move. He is mostly in Fayzabad. He has a close relationship with a drug smuggler and the third-ranking member of the Taliban in this province, and he spends most of his time at his house. He has taken a wife and established personal connections.”
Furthermore, this source mentions another Taliban member who monitors the security situation of Haji Furqan, but due to security issues, the name of this Taliban member is not disclosed.
It is noteworthy that according to the claims of sources, Haji Furqan has also been involved in the Kharooq uprisings in Tajikistan’s Badakhshan province. According to one source, some members of this group operate under different aliases in a secretive manner in Tajikistan, and their financial resources are provided by drug smugglers. It is mentioned that Haji Furqan has spent some time with the Al-Qaeda network and currently maintains close ties with that network as well. However, the Hasht-e Subh Daily cannot independently confirm Haji Furqan’s role in the Kharooq uprisings in Tajikistan’s Badakhshan province.
Members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have also attempted to establish familial ties in Afghanistan. Some members of this group have obtained Afghan identity cards and passports with the help of the Taliban. The United Nations Security Council report states that this group seeks to establish a presence in Afghanistan through various methods, including marriage, acquiring identities through fraudulent documents, and portraying their members as Afghan residents.
Earlier, Ramazon Rahimzoda, the Interior Minister of Tajikistan, had stated that the Taliban had distributed passports to around 3,000 members of “terrorist groups.” He added that terrorist groups in northern Afghanistan are located near the Tajikistan border. Rahimzoda also asserted that over 20 terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan.
Previously, the Taliban have repeatedly declared that they have severed ties with terrorist groups in the region and denied the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan. This group, which interacts with regional countries, has also provided written assurances to China that it will not support the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and other groups opposing the government of China in Afghanistan. However, it is noteworthy that the leadership members of this group (ETIM) in northeastern Afghanistan receive protection and identity documents under the stringent security management of the Taliban. Rahmatullah Nabil has also confirmed that foreign terrorist groups, due to their deep and ideological connections with the Taliban, have obtained Afghan identities and have settled in various parts of the country under different names.
It should be noted that alongside the United States, China, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries, Russia has also expressed serious concerns about the infiltration of insurgent groups in Central Asia. Although Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, handed over the Afghan embassy in Moscow to the Taliban, he has issued warnings about the presence of terror groups in Afghanistan. He stated that these terrorist groups pose a threat to the stability and security of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. It remains unclear how long these concerns will persist, but documents and evidence indicate that the relationship between the Taliban and regional and global jihadist groups is not conclusively terminated. It appears that in any case, the group will either protect them within their structures or under their support.
