December 12, 2025 | Regional Security
On the anniversary of the assassination of a senior Taliban minister, a suspicious "confession" video has surfaced, reigniting tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. The video, which Pakistani officials immediately denounced as "staged propaganda," represents the latest episode in a long-running pattern where the Taliban deflects blame for internal security failures onto neighboring Pakistan.
The drama centers on the death of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban's acting minister for refugees and a senior leader of the powerful Haqqani Network. He was killed in a suicide bombing at his ministry headquarters in Kabul on December 11, 2024. The regional branch of the Islamic State (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the attack, which also claimed the lives of at least four others.
On the attack's anniversary, a video was released by Shamshad News featuring what appears to be a forced confession from a detained individual. In it, the speaker alleges that Pakistan's intelligence services were behind Haqqani's killing by sheltering ISKP operatives in the Balochistan region.
Jan Achakzai, Information Minister for Pakistan's Balochistan province, issued a forceful public rebuttal. He dismissed the video as "total lie" and "staged propaganda, straight out of the Taliban's playbook," asserting it was a "desperate finger-pointing" tactic to blame Pakistan for the Taliban's own security failures.
The release of this video aligns with a documented pattern of coercion under Taliban rule. International press freedom organizations have reported a systematic Taliban strategy of forcing detainees, particularly journalists, to make filmed "confessions" that serve the regime's narrative.
Célia Mercier, Head of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) South Asia Desk, condemned this practice: "The staging of journalist Mahdi Ansary's forced 'confession' illustrates the strategy of inflicting terror that is increasingly employed by the Taliban intelligence services... These public humiliations mark a new phase in the relentless repression."
Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban has arrested at least 165 journalists, with Afghanistan ranking 175th out of 180 countries in press freedom.
Haqqani's assassination was a significant blow to the Taliban, marking the most high-profile killing within the administration since 2021. As the uncle of current Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, his death exposed vulnerabilities and sparked speculation about internal tensions within the Taliban's leadership.
While the Taliban publicly presents a united front, analysts note the existence of different power bases, with the Haqqani Network being the most powerful faction. Some disagreements have surfaced, notably over the strict enforcement of social edicts in regions under Haqqani influence.
The attack also highlighted the enduring threat posed by ISKP, which remains a potent rival to Taliban rule. Despite Taliban crackdowns, a United Nations report estimated the group's strength in Afghanistan had grown to between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters by mid-2024. Experts warn that ISKP has become more strategic, targeting high-profile Taliban leaders, foreign interests, and ethnic minorities to maintain its relevance.
Beyond security failures, the Taliban faces allegations of misusing international aid. A July 2024 report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) suggested that $293 million in American humanitarian aid may have been diverted to the Taliban. While the Taliban denies these claims, analysts warn that such resources, along with U.S. military equipment left behind in 2021, could potentially bolster extremist networks in the region.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which launches attacks across the border. The new "confession" video is seen by observers as a retaliatory narrative from Kabul, aiming to counter Pakistan's accusations by painting Islamabad as the harborer of terrorism.
The staged confession video surrounding Khalil Haqqani's death is more than a bilateral spat; it is a reflection of the Taliban's fragile control and its reliance on propaganda to manage internal dissent and external pressure. As the group continues to grapple with a resilient ISKP insurgency and regional distrust, such blame-shifting tactics are likely to continue, further destabilizing an already volatile region.
For further context on this ongoing story, you might be interested in:
A detailed profile of the Haqqani Network and its role within the Taliban government.
An analysis of the growth and strategy of ISKP in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The status of international aid and engagement with the Taliban administration since 2021.
