Russia Maintains Taliban Terrorist Designation Amid Ongoing Security Concerns

In an interview with Afghanistan International, TalibLeaks claimed that hacking into Taliban ministries is “very easy” and that exposing such data serves as a warning to the group, emphasising that the Taliban cannot conceal its operations.

TalibLeaks reported that various Taliban factions operate independently in the digital realm, resulting in widely varying cybersecurity standards. The group noted that while the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s faction is more difficult to infiltrate—largely due to its reliance on paper-based communication rather than digital platforms—the Haqqani Network maintains relatively robust security, a strength attributed more to its minimal use of the internet than to advanced protective measures.

With over a decade of cybersecurity experience, TalibLeaks asserted that penetrating most Taliban ministries remains remarkably simple. The exposure of the cybersecurity chief’s email password, “12345678,” serves as a prime example. The hacker group also claimed to have repeatedly infiltrated Taliban servers, at times discovering evidence of previous breaches by other hackers.

Leaked documents indicate that TalibLeaks has gained access to the emails of numerous Taliban officials and government employees. Although the Taliban’s Ministry of Telecommunications has acknowledged that documents from dozens of Taliban-run agencies have been leaked, the group has not commented on the extent of the breach or the security vulnerabilities exposed by TalibLeaks.

Koofi is scheduled to deliver a speech on Afghanistan’s role in international and regional policies and will participate in a panel discussion on the essential role of female leadership in promoting peace and development in international relations.

The conference will take place from 14 to 16 February.

At last year’s event, foreign ministers from 12 countries issued a joint statement condemning the Taliban for excluding women from society and political decision-making, warning that such systematic gender-based abuse could amount to crimes against humanity.

The statement, released on the second day of the conference, was endorsed by the foreign ministers of Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, the Netherlands, and Romania, who described the situation in Afghanistan as one of the worst human rights crises in the world.

In response, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the foreign ministers’ remarks as baseless propaganda, asserting that the rights of all citizens, including women, are respected in Afghanistan, and that people enjoy security in terms of life, property, dignity, and mental well-being.

This year’s Munich Security Conference will focus on global security challenges, environmental security, the state of the international order, and regional conflicts and crises. Additionally, Bloomberg reported on 6 February that former President Trump’s strategy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be presented at the conference.

On the sidelines of the event, JD Vance, US Vice President , is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, 14 February.

Zelensky has warned that if Ukraine’s NATO accession plan is not realised, Kyiv will require further assistance from the United States to bolster its military capabilities.

According to the statement released on Friday, 14 February, both nations emphasised the importance of establishing an inclusive government that upholds human rights, particularly for women and girls, and prioritises the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. The statement also underscored the need to continue providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

During a two-day official visit to Islamabad, the Turkish President was warmly received by senior Pakistani officials. In discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that Islamabad expects the Afghan Taliban to collaborate in combating terrorism, rather than facilitating its proliferation. Sharif also voiced concerns regarding the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, warning that the country should not become a safe haven for extremist elements.

The statement further revealed that Türkiye and Pakistan urged the Taliban leadership to take decisive measures against terrorism, specifically targeting groups such as ISIS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), both of which are subject to United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Despite maintaining close ties with the Afghan Taliban—accepting their diplomats and engaging in political and economic relations—the Taliban government continues to impose significant restrictions on women’s rights, including access to employment, education, and other fundamental freedoms. International and Islamic bodies have previously called on the Taliban to lift these restrictions; however, the group has persisted in enforcing them.

Hashmatullah Rahmani, the Taliban police spokesperson, stated that the incident occurred when two individuals threw a hand grenade into the mosque during prayers, reportedly over a “personal dispute.”

Rahmani indicated that at least four worshippers were injured in the attack. He added that Taliban security forces arrived promptly at the scene and subsequently arrested the perpetrators, confirming that the two attackers were armed. The incident is currently under investigation, and the injured have been transferred to Mazar-e-Sharif Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Earlier reports from local sources told Afghanistan International that an explosion and subsequent gunfire had been heard inside the Grand Mosque in the Joi Zindan area, with a grenade being thrown followed by gunfire. Doctors from the Samangan Public Health Department reported that dozens of worshippers were injured during the attack.

This attack is the latest in a series of explosions in Afghanistan in recent days. On the morning of Thursday, 13 February, a suicide attack targeted the Taliban’s Ministry of Urban Development in Kabul, resulting in multiple casualties.

Prior to that, on Tuesday, 11 February, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the Kabul Bank office in Kunduz, where Taliban officials and military personnel were awaiting their salaries. ISIS-K later claimed responsibility for the Kunduz attack.

According to the sources, Malikzada sustained multiple stab wounds in the chest, shoulder, and hand.

His relatives reported that two masked individuals entered his home and assaulted him with a knife before fleeing the scene. They further claimed that the attackers were also Afghan nationals.

Following the incident, Malikzada managed to seek help from a neighbour, who assisted him in alerting the police and emergency services.

Sources confirmed that Malikzada is currently receiving medical care in a hospital, where police have implemented security measures. His condition is reported to be stable.

Afghanistan International has obtained an image of him lying on a hospital bed after the attack.

The Metropolitan Police have not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Malikzada is an active user on the X social media platform, where he frequently criticises Taliban policies.

A day before the attack, he had posted a warning about the Taliban’s influence in the UK, writing “A few years ago, if you’d told me I’d censor myself in the UK because of the Taliban, I would’ve laughed. Now I’m holding back as the UK has become like the Taliban’s Western capital. I’m not anti-immigration (I’m an immigrant), but it’s frightening how the UK has fallen to the Taliban.”

Taliban officials have previously threatened exiled critics with attacks.

Last year, Saeed Khosty, a former Taliban Interior Ministry spokesperson, openly stated that those campaigning against the Taliban should be “killed”. He further claimed that the group had “hundreds of volunteers” ready to target its opponents abroad.

Additionally, in February 2024, Mohammad Nabi Omari, the Taliban’s Deputy Interior Minister, declared that, if necessary, the Taliban could target their opponents outside Afghanistan for as little as 500 Pakistani rupees.

The attack on Malikzada has raised concerns about the safety of Afghan dissidents living in exile, particularly in the UK.