Pakistan conducted a targeted airstrike on the special forces unit of Afghanistan’s Amir al-Mu’minin, Mullah Haibatullah, on the night of Saturday, March 14. The unit, armed with advanced weapons, was based in a residential area on the outskirts of Kandahar city, about six kilometers from Haibatullah’s residence in Mundik.
According to local reports, the explosions were extremely loud and were heard across the city. Shortly after, another Taliban base in the Ain-o-Mina residential area in Kandahar’s 11th district was also attacked. The Taliban have not yet commented on the strikes or reported any casualties.
Mullah Haibatullah’s special forces, also known as the Taliban Umari Unit, are considered the elite wing of the Taliban. The unit is stationed at the base of the Mianku Mountains in northern Kandahar, where the former home of Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar once stood. Today, this location, called Mullah Saheb’s Sarai, serves as the unit’s headquarters.
Structure, Role, and Capabilities
Local sources estimate the unit has about 7,000 members. Around 1,200 are tasked exclusively with Haibatullah’s personal security. The unit is led by Mullah Abdul Ahad, a close aide of Haibatullah, also known as “Talib Molvi.”
The special forces have branches across several Afghan provinces, including Kabul, Nangarhar, Paktia, Logar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Panjshir, and Nimroz. Their main responsibilities include consolidating Haibatullah’s control over governance, relaying information from different provinces, and acting directly on his orders.
During the American presence in Afghanistan, this location housed foreign Third Division forces from the US, England, and Canada, along with US intelligence personnel. After the Taliban regained power, all personnel and equipment from the Third Division were transferred to Haibatullah’s unit. The unit remains well-equipped, financially supported, and enjoys special operational authority.
Security experts say the unit can reach Haibatullah within minutes. After the recent strikes, emergency powers have been granted to forces in the area. The region, already restricted for civilians, is now under a limited curfew, with operations managed directly by this elite unit.
