Kabul-Linked Al-Mirsad Exposed for Spreading False ISKP Claims Against Pakistan

Islamabad – In recent weeks, Afghan intelligence-linked social media account Al Mirsaad has been caught circulating fabricated claims regarding the presence and activities of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Pakistan. The outlet falsely reported the death of an “ISKP commander” in Pakistan’s Punjab, using an image of a known Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant. In reality, one individual neutralized in Karachi, Hasan, was linked to the TTP and hailed from Achin district of Nangarhar, while the other, Burhan from Punjab, was a civilian with no connection to ISKP or militancy. Verification of the images and claims immediately exposed Al-Mirsad’s story as a fabrication, highlighting the outlet’s continued role in spreading disinformation.

Al-Mirsad, a media platform affiliated with Afghanistan’s Taliban intelligence wing, has a long history of framing Pakistan as the supporter of ISKP. Analysts note that the outlet often aligns its narratives with broader Afghan propaganda, portraying Pakistan’s military actions as destabilizing the region while downplaying ISKP’s strongholds within Afghanistan. In this latest instance, Al-Mirsad appears to deliberately misrepresent Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations, falsely casting Islamabad as a hub for ISKP activities.

Indo-Afghan Disinformation Alignment

Experts suggest that the surge in Al-Mirsad’s fabricated content coincides with Pakistan’s sustained pressure on Kabul to dismantle TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) sanctuaries operating within Afghan territory. Recent precision strikes by Pakistani security forces on cross-border terrorist hideouts have intensified scrutiny of Afghan lands being used for attacks. Rather than addressing these concerns, Afghanistan’s intelligence-linked media is pushing a counter-narrative to shift blame onto Pakistan.

Monitoring of regional media indicates that Al-Mirsad’s false claims often mirror Indian media narratives on Pakistan. Mislabeled images, recycled footage, and unverified allegations have been employed to construct a coordinated narrative painting Pakistan as a state supporting terrorism. Analysts argue that this alignment signals an emerging Indo-Afghan information nexus aimed at influencing regional perception while deflecting attention from internal Afghan security lapses.

Also see: Militancy, Misinformation, and the Taliban’s Blame Game Over ISKP

Independent Assessments Contradict Kabul’s Claims

International organizations, including the United Nations, United States, and European Union, consistently identify eastern Afghanistan, particularly Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul provinces, as ISKP’s operational strongholds. These findings directly contradict Al-Mirsad’s portrayal of Pakistan as an ISKP hub.

At a recent UN Security Council meeting, Anna Ostigina, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia, expressed concern over ISIS-K’s activities in Afghanistan, warning that the group aims to destabilize the region. She emphasized that Taliban measures have been insufficient to curb ISIS-K and called for a comprehensive strategy. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu stated that approximately 2,300 fighters from international extremist groups remain active in Afghanistan, posing serious regional and global threats.

Despite repeated diplomatic engagements, TTP and BLA militants continue to use Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces. Analysts argue that Kabul’s propaganda campaign seeks to distract from these ongoing security failures, shifting the narrative rather than taking tangible action. Pakistan emphasizes that sustainable regional peace requires Afghanistan to dismantle these networks in accordance with international obligations.

Pakistan’s Commitment to Regional Stability

Pakistan maintains a clear and consistent stance: combating terrorism is both a national duty and a regional responsibility. Officials emphasize that accuracy in reporting, intelligence cooperation, and sincere diplomatic engagement, not propaganda, form the foundation of meaningful counterterrorism efforts. Fabricated narratives pushed by outlets like Al-Mirsad do not only distort facts; they undermine Pakistan’s operational achievements against ISKP, misrepresent regional realities, and fuel unnecessary tension between Islamabad and Kabul.

Pakistan’s counterterrorism data offers a sharp contrast to Al-Mirsad’s claims. Over the last two years, Pakistani security forces have conducted more than 2,100 intelligence-based operations targeting ISKP-linked cells, preventing several cross-border infiltrations and recording a notable 20–25% decline in ISKP-related incidents. Security officials attribute this decline to enhanced urban surveillance, targeted operations across KP and Punjab, and coordinated intelligence efforts that have disrupted ISKP facilitators attempting to re-enter Pakistan from Afghan territory. Yet, instead of acknowledging these developments or addressing the presence of militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan, Kabul-linked media continues to circulate misleading claims aimed at discrediting Pakistan’s counterterrorism resolve.

Also see: Afghanistan:The Question of Pakistan’s Complaints

Al-Mirsad’s Role in the Information War

Al-Mirsad functions as a counter-propaganda arm for Kabul, aiming to reinforce Taliban governance while diminishing ISKP’s perceived footprint inside Afghanistan. Its repeated false claims, many of which have been contradicted even by ISKP’s own media wing, Al-Azaim Foundation, highlight an active information war between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Analysts argue that this disinformation campaign seeks to shift political blame, obscure internal security failures, and undermine Pakistan’s counterterrorism record at both domestic and international levels.

Afghanistan has failed to curb the TTP and its affiliates operating freely on Afghan soil. The figures cited by Pakistani authorities are extensive and alarming: 58 training camps, staging posts, and safe houses reportedly linked to the TTP and BLA inside Afghanistan; 172 TTP “tashkeels”, nearly 4,000 fighters, infiltrating into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since June 2025; and an additional 83 tashkeels (around 1,200 fighters) moving from southern Afghan provinces into Balochistan. These infiltration patterns have directly contributed to a surge in cross-border attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces.

Experts note that instead of addressing these security gaps, Kabul-linked platforms like Al-Mirsad are actively pushing counter-narratives that falsely depict Pakistan as an ISKP hub. These propaganda tactics, when amplified across the regional information ecosystem, often in coordination with narratives propagated by Indian media, create a distorted portrayal of Pakistan’s security posture. Such coordinated misrepresentation not only threatens bilateral trust but also undermines broader regional cooperation against terrorism at a time when unified action is most urgently needed.