Captured Militant Reveals Terror Networks in Afghanistan
The confession of a young Afghan militant, Waseem, has once again highlighted the presence of active terrorist networks in Afghanistan and their operations against Pakistan. According to Waseem, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliate Jamaat-ul-Ahrar are running multiple training centers in Afghanistan, where young boys are being prepared for terrorism.
Background of the Young Militant
Waseem, 17, hailing from the Achin Ghoshta area of Nangarhar province, told investigators that he completed his Quran memorization (Hifz) in 2021 at a local madrassa called “Ahnaf” and then worked with his father in agriculture.
Recruitment and Training in Madrassas
In 2023, Waseem enrolled in Madrassa Anwar-ul-Quran in Jalalabad, where he met Ahmad, a covert member of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. Ahmad lured several boys under the pretext of “jihad” and took them to a training center in the Shonkray area.
At the center, Waseem met Commander Maulvi Basir (brother of Commander Wali Khorasani) and Commander Rashid from TTP. In August 2023, a group of around 23 youths began training. Maulvi Sadiq oversaw the training while a masked individual provided “mental and spiritual preparation.”
Scale of the Training Operations
Waseem revealed that four to five similar groups existed in different madrassas across Afghanistan, each consisting of 20–25 youths, totaling nearly 100 boys being prepared for terrorism. Many of them were later sent to various Pakistani cities for operations.
Preparation for Operations Against Pakistan
After completing his training, Waseem returned home for a while. Later, Commander Rashid called him back to Kabul, informing him that he had been selected for “jihad against Pakistan.” In May 2024, Waseem received training on using suicide jackets.
Cross-Border Movement and Arrest
Commander Rashid arranged for Waseem’s entry into Pakistan via an Afghan smuggler, providing him with 40,000 Afghan rupees. Waseem said a group of 10–15 crossed the border at night through Nimroz and reached Quetta, from where they traveled by bus to Peshawar. During the journey, they used different phones to maintain contact with their “handlers” in Peshawar. Eventually, Waseem arrived at Haji Camp, Peshawar, where Pakistani intelligence agencies arrested him.
Implications
According to Pakistani security officials, this confession provides direct evidence of terrorist networks operating in Afghanistan, often under the protection or silent consent of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Experts say the revelation further confirms that Afghanistan has not only become a haven for terrorist groups but is also actively facilitating organized operations against Pakistan. The Afghan government and the leadership of the Islamic Emirate have not yet responded to these claims.
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