Taliban Media Releases Videos of Alleged ISIS Confessions Amid Yearmark of Haqani’s Assassination

Taliban-affiliated media outlets have released videos purportedly containing confessions from ISIS members, coinciding with the first anniversary of the assassination of Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqani, the group’s former Minister for Refugees. They alleged that the planning and execution of the operation to kill him took place in Pakistan’s Balochistan province…

Planning the Operation from Balochistan

In the video, a man identifying himself as Hamza claims responsibility for orchestrating the attack on Haqani, stating clearly:

“The operation was planned and designed from Balochistan, Pakistan, with a direct perpetrator named Usman carrying out the attack. The necessary training for executing this operation was also conducted in Balochistan under Pakistan’s security umbrella.”

The media outlet Al-Marsad, known for its connection to Taliban intelligence, corroborated this claim, announcing that the ISIS suicide bomber detonated himself at the Ministry of Refugees after receiving orders from Pakistan.

A Crisis of Tension Between Taliban and Pakistan

Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqani was killed a year ago in a suicide attack at the Ministry of Refugees, an attack claimed by ISIS’s Khorasan branch. This case is complex and multifaceted.

Some experts believe his death has weakened the position of the Haqqani network. Additionally, this case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, where both parties accuse each other of supporting hostile insurgent groups.

The Taliban, with the release of these videos, assert that Balochistan is a hub for training and equipping ISIS. Conversely, Islamabad has rejected these claims, accusing the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a safe haven for regional and global terrorist groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).