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Afghanistan, Pakistan
Pakistan's ISI steers establishment of Taliban security and intelligence apparatus

With the Taliban government under construction, Islamabad is determined to maintain its central role in Afghanistan's affairs and is using its intelligence service to shape the new security apparatus in Kabul. [...]

Published on 14/09/2021 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 2 minutes

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Government Intelligence

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Abdul Ghani Baradar
Abdul Haq Wasiq
Badri 313
CIA
Faiz Hameed
Inter-Services Intelligence
Taj Mir Jawad
William Burns

Spymaster | Afghanistan
Abdul Haq Wasiq struggles to hold reins of bureau dominated by Haqqanis

Afghanistan's fledgling intelligence service, set up by the Taliban when they swept to power in 2021, is struggling to establish itself as it wrestles with internal strife and the country's volatile security situation, placing its chief Abdul Haq Wasiq in a precarious position.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 06.01.2023

Pakistan, United States
ISI and CIA cooperate again under Pakistani army chief of staff Qamar Javed Bajwa

The CIA and Pakistan's ISI have buried the hatchet and started cooperating again, under the auspices of Pakistan's armed forces chief, after tough negotiations between William Burns and Faiz Hamid.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 27.09.2022

Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan's army chief of staff.

Afghanistan
Haqqani Network threatens to break away from main Taliban movement with Pakistani backing

Showing unprecedented pragmatism, the Haqqani Network has criticised the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan for their religious radicality and is increasingly looking to take an independent line from the rest of the movement.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 17.06.2022

Afghanistan
Taliban out of favour with Islamabad over worsening security situation

A worsening security situation, the rise of the local branch of Islamic State and a cooling of support from Pakistan are just some of the difficulties facing Afghanistan's increasingly divided Taliban.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 05.05.2022

Pakistan
Islamabad tries to force Pakistani Talibans back to the border following truce breakdown

Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence believed that it could bring the country's Talibans back into line by organising a truce. Now that the truce has been broken, however, spy chiefs are concentrating on securing Pakistan's border with Afghanistan at the risk of alienating their allies in Kabul.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 21.01.2022

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh renews contact with Taliban via Pakistani intelligence

Saudi Arabia, which is keen to find a new role for itself in Afghanistan, has contacted Pakistan's omnipresent Inter-Services Intelligence, which is already engaged in helping rebuild the Taliban army. Riyadh sees Afghanistan as offering a new opportunity to counter the activities of its rival, Iran, which is watching the new Saudi-Pakistani partnership uneasily.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 23.12.2021

Pakistan
Imran Khan and military chief disagree over ISI chief nominee

Monopolised by the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the threat from Islamic State in Khorasan, Pakistan's intelligence service is also caught in a power struggle between the prime minister and the head of the armed forces while it awaits the appointment of a new chief.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 28.10.2021

Pakistan's army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and PM Imran Khan in Islamabad on 29 October 2020.

Europe, Pakistan
Pakistani intelligence service's activity in Europe invigorated by its victory in Afghanistan

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, which played a key role in the victory of the Talibans in Kabul, remains highly active in Europe, particularly in Germany, which is a favourite target for its technology sourcing activities.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 19.10.2021

Afghanistan, Pakistan
ISI concerned about alliance between Islamic State in Khorasan and Pakistan's Taliban

Despite the proximity between Islamabad's intelligence community and Kabul's new rulers, the strengthening of the Pakistani component of the Taliban, allied with Islamic State in Khorasan, is not to the liking of Pakistan's ISI spymasters.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 18.10.2021

Spotlight | India, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
New Delhi positions itself as Afghanistan intelligence hub

The CIA, MI6 and the Security Council of Russia have all recently made tracks to New Delhi, which is emerging as the world hub for intelligence trading on Afghanistan as India becomes the vital sponsor of military opposition to the Taliban.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 15.10.2021

The head of Russia's National Security Council (NSC) Nikolai Patrushev, left, met with India's national security adviser Ajit Doval on 8 September 2021 in New Delhi.

Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
India's intelligence service RAW deployed in bid to influence Afghan affairs

In a new strategy on Afghanistan that keeps India's opposition to Islamabad very much to the forefront, New Delhi has instructed its external intelligence service, the RAW, to corral anti-Taliban forces.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 08.10.2021

Afghanistan
Taliban high command split between Baradar and Haqqani Network supporters

Despite their victory, the Taliban remain internally divided between supporters of their former negotiator in Doha, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and members of the radical Haqqani Network.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 01.10.2021

Afghanistan, Qatar
Doha keeps mediator role despite intelligence failures on Taliban

Qatar, home to the political branch of the Taliban since 2011, is proud of its role as mediator and the international visibility that goes with it. Its intelligence errors on the evolution of the situation in Afghanistan seem not to have dented its determination to remain closely involved.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 03.09.2021

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
After fall of Kabul, Riyadh takes prudent approach to talks with Taliban

Although keen to keep on the US administration's good side, Saudi Arabia wants to prevent Iran having free rein in Afghanistan and has instructed his spymasters to engage in a prudent dialogue with the Taliban, facilitated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 27.08.2021

Spotlight | Afghanistan
Fear of past chaos looms large on eve of US withdrawal

The departure of US troops is causing concern on the ground in Afghanistan as the Taliban strengthen their grip, Islamic State pursues its activities, Iran weighs in, and the Massoud era alliances reform, prompting fears of renewed violence.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 21.05.2021

Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan
Tehran tries to woo Taliban away from Islamabad

According to several sources close to the National Directorate of Security (DNS), the Afghan intelligence service, Iran is consolidating its [...]

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 27.01.2021

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Abdul Ghani Baradar
Abdul Haq Wasiq
Badri 313
CIA
Faiz Hameed
Inter-Services Intelligence
Taj Mir Jawad
William Burns

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