Taliban Police Spokesperson In Kabul Refutes Link With Jaish al-Adl

Khalid Zadran, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Police in Kabul, firmly rejected any association between the Taliban and the Iranian militant group Jaish al-Adl.

In a statement to Afghanistan International, Zadran dismissed reports from some media outlets linked to Pakistan, which suggested that the Taliban had delegated the security of provinces bordering Iran to Jaish al-Adl, as unfounded.

Zadran's comments were a direct response to assertions by Pakistani journalist Hamed Mir. In a social media post, Mir claimed, "The Afghan Taliban and Jaish al-Adl are closely allied." He alleged that the Taliban had assigned the responsibility for Nimroz, Farah, and Herat provinces in Afghanistan to Jaish al-Adl.

Mir also insinuated that Jaish al-Adl plays a role in assaults against Pakistani security forces.

'Jomhuri-e Eslami', an Iranian newspaper, previously published an article alleging that Jaish al-Adl had established bases in Afghanistan with the Taliban's support. The paper suggested that with the Taliban's "logistical and political backing," it was foreseeable that Jaish al-Adl would initiate hostile actions.

In another piece, 'Jomhuri-e Eslami' claimed that the Taliban had designated three Iranian separatists as security chiefs in the provinces adjoining Iran. These officials were named as Mawlawi Towhidi in Herat, Ziaei in Farah, and Abdul Malik Malazadeh in Nimroz.

Mohammad Hossein Jafarian, a prominent Iranian journalist, in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan International, reiterated similar allegations.