KABUL/ISLAMABAD - A leaked letter attributed to Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has exposed the Afghan Taliban regime's direct involvement in providing logistical, security, intelligence, and training support to terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil. The document, verified by multiple independent sources, reveals a systematic mechanism through which the Taliban facilitates the movement, protection, and operational development of designated terrorists.

According to the leaked directive, Akhundzada instructed the Taliban Ministry of Defence to arrange special facilities for several individuals identified as members of or associated with terrorist networks. The document names Sheikh Talha al-Iraqi, Sheikh Mawlavi Abdullah Mahmood, Sheikh Abdul Rahman, Sheikh Abu Ikhlas Abu Umar al-Misri, Sheikh Abdul Haq Turkistani, Sheikh Mawlavi Abdul Ghafar Naqshbandi, and Sheikh Mawlavi Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hashimi, among others .

The Directives: Beyond Sanctuary

The leaked letter reveals that the support provided by the Taliban regime extends far beyond merely providing sanctuary. According to the document, the directives include:

• Confidential air travel arrangements for the named individuals

• Intelligence cooperation between Taliban authorities and terrorist networks

• Security protection for terrorist operatives

• Specialized training for terrorist personnel

• Engagement of specialists with expertise in explosives manufacturing and drone development

These measures, if implemented, would significantly enhance the mobility, operational capabilities, technical capacity, and organizational resilience of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan .

Verification from Multiple Sources

The authenticity of the leaked letter has been corroborated by multiple independent sources. The South Asia Times, The STRATCOM Bureau, and Khyber Chronicles have all reported on the document's contents, with detailed descriptions of the named individuals and the specific directives issued .

The letter's emergence comes amid mounting international evidence of the Taliban's support for terrorist networks. A recent UN Security Council report confirmed that the Afghan Taliban authorities continue to provide support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), contributing to a sharp escalation in cross-border attacks against Pakistan .

UN Findings Confirm the Pattern

The 38th report from the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, covering the period from December 2025 to June 2026, found that the Taliban's continued support for the TTP has fueled rising terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The report stated that no UN Security Council member state accepted Kabul's assertion that no terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil .

The UN report also highlighted that Al-Qaeda has provided training and advisory support to the TTP, with Al-Qaeda trainers in Afghanistan training TTP fighters alongside members of the Baloch Liberation Army .

Taliban's Denials: A Pattern of Deception

The Taliban regime has attempted to dismiss the leaked letter as fake, with its affiliated media outlets claiming it is fabricated. However, this follows a documented pattern. In 2024, the Taliban similarly denied the authenticity of a letter purporting to authorize US base use, despite widespread evidence of ongoing cooperation .

The Taliban's public denials are contradicted by the UN's findings, which state that the group's support for terrorist networks continues even as it publicly denies harboring any terrorist groups .

Afghanistan: A Growing Terrorist Hub

The leaked letter confirms what Pakistan has warned for years: Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become a global terrorist hub. According to UN assessments, at least 20 terrorist groups are currently operating in Afghanistan, with an estimated 20,000 to 23,000 terrorists present in the country .

The Washington Post has reported that Al-Qaeda has established eight safe havens across Afghanistan and has regrouped in at least 14 provinces. The group is running camps where TTP militants and suicide bombers receive training, with an estimated 7,000 TTP militants present in Afghanistan .

Implications for Regional Security

The leaked letter has serious implications for regional security. The provision of confidential air travel, intelligence coordination, and specialized training to terrorist operatives demonstrates that the Taliban regime is not merely a passive host to terrorist groups but an active enabler of their operations.

For Pakistan, which has suffered thousands of casualties from cross-border terrorism, the document provides further evidence of the Taliban's complicity. The UN report confirms that TTP attacks have escalated sharply, provoking military exchanges across the border .

The international community must now confront the reality that the Taliban regime, despite its public denials, is actively supporting terrorist networks. The leaked letter is not an isolated document but part of a systematic pattern of support that has made Afghanistan the world's primary source of transnational terrorism.