Taliban’s Covert Operations: The Deployment of Uzbek and Chechen Extremists in Afghanistan

Security investigations indicate that the deployment of Uzbek and Chechen extremist elements in the northern provinces of Afghanistan has been carried out under the order of the Taliban leader. These individuals are employed under the cover of the operational forces of the Balkh intelligence in the physical elimination of opponents and even members of opposing factions (Haqqani)…

​Deployment of Uzbek and Chechen fighters by the order of the Taliban leader

​After the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, a significant number of extremist elements of Uzbek and Chechen ethnicity, who previously had an active collaboration in the wars of this group, were deployed in the northern provinces of the country under a direct order from Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader. Reports indicate that operational-capable forces among these militants have been absorbed into the Taliban intelligence apparatus and are being purposefully utilized in operations to eliminate domestic opponents. Currently, these individuals are tasked with assassinating and physically eliminating opponents of the Taliban leader’s orders in the northern provinces, including certain officials affiliated with the Haqqani faction or members of the National Resistance Front.

​Footprint of the head of Balkh intelligence in assassination operations

​This policy has intensified in Balkh province with the appointment of Mawlawi Rahmatullah Noorani, an individual close to the Kandahar circle. Noorani, who was appointed to head the intelligence of this province through the recommendation and follow-up of Mawlawi Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, the Balkh governor and Hibatullah’s special representative in the northern provinces, is secretly utilizing his connections with Uzbek and Chechen elements stationed in Sar-e Pol province for the elimination of individuals. Noorani and his team also consider the Haqqani faction as a legitimate threat aligned with the Resistance Front and pursue their targeted assassinations in the context of cleansing Afghanistan of its opponents.

​Assassination of a family linked to the Resistance Front in Mazar-e Sharif

​Recently, this network of silent assassinations killed a family of three connected to the Resistance Front in the city of Mazar-e Sharif. During this horrific crime, a husband and wife along with their eight-year-old son were murdered in the middle of the night in their home by unknown assailants. Balkh intelligence officials have portrayed this murder, to mislead public opinion and cover up the security aspects, as a family dispute or theft in the minds of the people of this province, while no trace of the perpetrators of this horrific crime has been found.

​Governor of Balkh’s efforts at cover-up and deadlock in investigations

​The coordinated killings with the Balkh governor, Mawlawi Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, are carried out confidentially. Governor Wafa has promised to pursue and identify the perpetrators in the presence of tribal elders. However, sources working in local police and intelligence agencies emphasize that these killers will never be identified, arrested, or found. The reason for this is the clear identification of the main commander of the operations, namely Mawlawi Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, and the executor, i.e., the intelligence directorate under the management of Rahmat Noorani. These actions are considered part of the official agenda for purging the system of opponents and solidifying the power of the ruling movement.