Taliban Establishes Cyber Groups For Propaganda And Targeting Dissent

According to sources who spoke to Afghanistan International, Taliban leaders in Kabul have reportedly assembled a team to disseminate propaganda and target adversaries on social media platforms.

High-ranking officials, including the Ministers of Defence and Interior, as well as the Intelligence Chief, are said to be spearheading this digital initiative.

The report identifies three key cyber groups operating under Taliban leadership: “Badri Virtual Devotees,” “Ababil Emarati,” and “Omari Defenders.” These groups are linked to prominent Taliban figures, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, Minister of Defence, and Abdul Haq Wasiq, Taliban’s head of intelligence.

Badri Virtual Devotees

Led by Anas Haqqani, brother of the Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Saeed Khosty, a former spokesperson to the Taliban’s interior ministry, this faction reportedly operates from three locations in Kabul, coordinating the activities of 150 individuals across 15 subgroups. They focus on promoting Taliban achievements and engaging in online confrontations with critics. This group is believed to manage around 500 anonymous Facebook entities and 800 accounts on social platform X, another popular platform among Afghans.

Ababil Emarati

Functioning with the Taliban's intelligence funding, this group, led by Abdul Haq Wasiq, is said to monitor and attack the Taliban's political opponents on social networks. This includes hacking attempts against prominent dissenters, with reported assistance from contracted hackers based in Pakistan.

Omari Defenders

Associated with Mullah Yaqub, the Taliban’s defence minister, this team works on enhancing his public image and targeting those who speak negatively about key Taliban figures. With offices in various parts of Kabul, the group includes about 100 employees and is led by a former Afghan radio and television journalist.

The report also highlights the extensive use of anonymous accounts by Taliban supporters to attack critics with abusive language. These social media operations are part of a broader strategy by the Taliban to control narratives and suppress opposition voices in the digital realm.