Taliban’s Intelligence Agency Targeting Former Military Personnel Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan

Local sources in northern and central provinces have reported the start of a questionable process involving the Taliban’s intelligence agency collecting information on former government military personnel. Observers warn that the Taliban might use these forces as human shields, fearing potential conflict with Pakistan, or seek to prevent them from joining resistance fronts.

Suspicious Recruitment in Northern and Central Afghanistan

Reliable local sources from Afghanistan’s northern and central provinces indicate the alarming initiation of a new process by the Taliban’s security agencies. Reports from Badakhshan, Takhar, Faryab, Ghazni, Bamyan, and Daikundi show that the Taliban’s intelligence directorates are systematically identifying and registering the identities of former soldiers and officers of the previous government.

Residents have stated that the Taliban are distributing specific forms to local development councils, requesting village elders to list the details and addresses of anyone with a background in the former government’s security institutions. The apparent motive for this initiative is to register these individuals for new job opportunities.

Former Generals in the New Plan

Reports suggest that the new process is directly managed by Ghulam Ali Wahdat, a member of the Taliban-led High Commission for Shia Affairs. Wahdat, a long-time military figure, has been involved through the communist regime, the republic, and now under the Islamic Emirate, leading critics to point out his consistent shifts in allegiance as governments change.

Fear of Conflict with Pakistan and the Human Shield Scenario

Military analysts and political experts believe that this sudden move stems from the recent escalating tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. According to these experts, Taliban leaders, aware of the potential for broader border conflicts, are attempting to utilize trained former military personnel as combat tools.

Two primary hypotheses arise in this context: First, that the Taliban intends to forcibly employ these individuals on the front lines as human shields in the event of a full-scale war with Pakistan. Second, this may be a preemptive action to prevent skilled military personnel from being recruited into resistance fronts that may be supported by Pakistan.

Complete Distrust and a History of Assassination

These measures come in a backdrop marked by numerous reports of targeted assassinations, arbitrary arrests, and the torture of former military personnel in Kabul and northern provinces over the past year.

Two former soldiers currently residing in the country have described the plan as highly concerning and a perilous trap. Recalling their bitter experiences with past collaborations, they noted: “The Taliban fighters previously labeled us as untrustworthy, impure, and mercenaries, stripping us of our duties. Now, with insufficient funds even to feed their forces, how can they be sincerely reaching out to hire us?”

The increase in these movements has generated a wave of fear among the families of former military personnel, amplifying concerns about the possibility of mass disappearances or security abuses against this vulnerable group.