Social media users linked to the Taliban have sought to deflect blame from the group following widespread accusations over the killing of Ikramuddin Sari, a former Afghan police commander, in Tehran.
An investigation by Afghanistan International found that these users often operating under pseudonyms have consistently attributed the killing to internal disputes within anti-Taliban groups or to acts of personal revenge.
Sari and one of his companions were killed in an armed attack in Tehran on the evening of December 24. The incident prompted strong reactions. The National Resistance Front and the Afghanistan Freedom Front accused the Taliban of involvement, while several former Afghan officials called for an independent and transparent investigation. Some Iranian diplomats also said the killing should not be dismissed lightly.
The Iranian government has faced criticism over its close intelligence and political ties with the Taliban, with critics alleging that Tehran has turned a blind eye to the targeting of Taliban opponents. The Taliban has not issued an official response to the accusations.
Claims of Internal Disputes
Hindukush, a news website believed to be affiliated with Taliban intelligence, claimed the killing was “the result of internal disputes within the National Resistance Front.” The outlet, active on the X platform, described Sari as a prominent opponent of the Taliban.
The website published an audio file claiming that lists compiled by Sari of resistance members in Iran had reached Taliban intelligence leaders. However, credible sources told Afghanistan International that Sari maintained good relations with Iranian authorities and had worked to support Afghan refugee soldiers facing deportation.
Several Taliban-linked social media accounts also claimed the killing resulted from rivalries among resistance factions. A spokesperson for the National Resistance Front denied that Sari was a member of the group.
Sari was not affiliated with either of the two armed fronts opposing the Taliban. His activities focused primarily on assisting former Afghan military personnel in Iran.
Online Campaign
Other Taliban-linked users attributed the killing to personal revenge. Burhanuddin, identified as a Taliban media activist, claimed it was retaliation by relatives of victims of the former Afghan security forces. Another user raised ethnic grievances, alleging Sari had targeted members of a particular ethnic group during his service.
One Taliban-linked account warned that enemies of the “Islamic regime” would be targeted “anywhere in the world.”
A review of accounts sympathetic to the Taliban indicates a coordinated effort to promote the group’s preferred narrative and distance the Kabul authorities from the killing.
Organised Cyber Activity
Afghanistan International has previously reported that Taliban security and military institutions operate organised networks on social media. Sources said senior Taliban officials in Kabul have recruited dozens of individuals to defend the group and attack critics online.
These networks are reportedly linked to senior Taliban figures, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, and Abdul Haq Wasiq.
According to sources, members of these groups actively post on Facebook and X, defending Taliban leaders, rejecting criticism and promoting propaganda against opponents.
