Kabul: Diplomatic Sources Claim Afghan Taliban Sheltering TTP Leaders and Other Wanted Militants in Kabul’s Green Zone
Kabul – According to claims from diplomatic sources cited by senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, the Afghan Taliban regime is providing protection to high-profile wanted militants, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, and Bashir Zeb, along with other operatives from Central Asian states.
The militants are reportedly being sheltered inside Kabul’s heavily secured Green Zone, including in the Wazir Akbar Khan area, which is home to many foreign embassies, diplomatic residences, and international organizations.
Sources indicated that the presence of these internationally designated terrorists so close to diplomatic compounds poses a significant security risk and could lead to “deep trouble.” As a result, several foreign diplomats are said to be considering or planning to leave Kabul in the near future.
The report further states that the situation has raised serious concerns even among United Nations staff and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Kabul. Some of these entities have formally registered their objections with the Taliban authorities, highlighting that harboring declared terrorists remains unacceptable.
The claims come amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government over cross-border militancy, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing Kabul of providing safe havens to TTP elements responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan side has consistently denied such allegations.
No independent verification of the specific locations or the diplomats’ departure plans has been confirmed publicly at this time. The development underscores persistent regional security challenges following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
