KABUL, Afghanistan — A leaked letter from the Taliban’s counterintelligence division has raised concerns about alleged infiltration by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, within the country’s public institutions.
The letter, purportedly issued by Unit 376 of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), was dated March 21 and has circulated widely on social media. In it, Taliban intelligence officials warn that ISI operatives have established “widespread infiltration” across various public offices in Afghanistan.
The letter claims that while these alleged operatives have so far failed to carry out “mysterious targeted assassinations,” their efforts have been hampered by a lack of advanced guerrilla weaponry. It also alleges that the ISI is now seeking to smuggle weapons into Afghanistan through its network of infiltrators to facilitate future attacks.
Unit 376 instructed relevant departments within the Taliban’s intelligence apparatus to address what it called a “security gap,” urging heightened vigilance against infiltration and arms smuggling.
The letter appears to be signed by Basheer, identified as the Taliban head of Unit 376. The Taliban have not publicly confirmed or denied the authenticity of the document, and no official statement has been issued.
Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), shared the letter on X, calling it “official confirmation” of ISI’s presence within the Taliban’s own structures.
The claim, if verified, could strain relations between the Taliban and Pakistan at a time of heightened tension, particularly over cross-border militancy and recent accusations by Islamabad of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens in Afghanistan.
