WASHINGTON— A man with alleged ties to the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence, who reportedly enjoyed unrestricted access to the Taliban’s top commanders, is currently in the United States, Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee said on Friday.
“This access could only be given by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence,” Burchett said in a statement on X, where he criticized the Biden administration for granting the individual, Emran Rahimi, a visa.
Burchett described the decision as a failure of U.S. vetting processes, warning of potential risks to national security.
Rahimi, who arrived at Dulles International Airport earlier this week, has since traveled to North Carolina, according to Burchett’s letter to former US secretary of state in October 2024.
Burchett’s concerns are based on Rahimi’s alleged involvement with Taliban leadership and propaganda efforts. In a letter to former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the congressman detailed how Rahimi had been granted unrestricted access to senior Taliban officials, including the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
He wrote that according to reports from Vets4NRF, a U.S. veteran advocacy group, Rahimi has praised Taliban leaders in public forums and referred to Sirajuddin Haqqani—an FBI-wanted terrorist with a $10 million bounty—as “Caliph.” Burchett also highlighted an incident in which Rahimi reportedly endorsed a Taliban commander’s willingness to engage in jihad abroad, responding with “Very good.”
In addition to aiding Taliban propaganda, Rahimi is accused of encouraging members of the Afghan diaspora to return to Taliban-controlled areas, further raising questions about his intentions, he wrote in the letter.
In his letter, Burchett has called on the State Department to investigate Rahimi’s activities and affiliations. “This is not only troubling but a disservice to our veterans and allies,” he wrote, emphasizing the potential risks to Afghan-American communities and U.S. security.
The congressman also expressed alarm over Rahimi’s presence in areas where evacuated Afghan military members and their families now reside, underscoring the sensitivity of the situation.
