Taliban Claims Some Russian Tourists Intelligence Agent

DID Press: Taliban intelligence officials claimed that a significant number of Russian nationals entering Afghanistan under the guise of tourists are, in fact, intelligence operatives.

According to sources citing the Taliban’s intelligence agency, recent rise in Russian arrivals has raised security concerns within the group.

The Taliban maintain that some of these individuals, posing as tourists, journalists, or researchers, are conducting activities on behalf of Russian intelligence.

Asadullah Baryali, head of the Taliban’s counterintelligence department, reportedly warned in a confidential letter dated July 7, 2025, that suspicious activities by Russian nationals have surged to unprecedented levels, with many gathering information in sensitive areas of Afghanistan.

In a speech in September, Baryali also announced that the Taliban had established a specialized intelligence unit to monitor foreign intelligence operations, particularly those from Russia and Belarus.

He emphasized that the move is part of the Taliban’s broader strategy to maintain “information sovereignty” and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a battleground for foreign powers.