Commander Saeed emphasized that “fighting in any country, especially Pakistan, without the explicit orders of the Emir is impermissible.” He further stated that those who join various militant factions and carry out attacks in foreign lands “cannot be considered true mujahideen.”
Ansar M Bhatti
KABUL: A senior commander of the Afghan Taliban, Saeedullah Saeed, issued a strong warning to extremist factions operating under the guise of jihad, during a passing-out ceremony for police personnel. In his address, Commander Saeed made clear and unequivocal statements against unauthorized militant activities, particularly those targeting neighboring countries, including Pakistan.
Commander Saeed emphasized that “fighting in any country, especially Pakistan, without the explicit orders of the Emir is impermissible.” He further stated that those who join various militant factions and carry out attacks in foreign lands “cannot be considered true mujahideen.”
He clarified that the act of moving from one region to another to carry out attacks does not qualify someone as a mujahid, but rather reflects defiance of both Islamic law and the state authority of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He strongly asserted that “the right to declare or permit jihad solely belongs to the Emir of the Islamic State—not to any group or individual.”
Commander Saeed added that if the leadership of the Islamic Emirate has issued an order not to travel to Pakistan for militant purposes, “defying this command amounts to religious disobedience.” He noted that any action driven by personal ego or loyalty to a particular group, and not sanctioned by the state leadership, will be considered “fitna” (sedition) and not legitimate jihad under Shariah.
He went on to say that militant factions carrying out attacks in the name of jihad are not only violating Islamic principles but are also disobeying the leadership of the Afghan Taliban. “Such elements are rebels against both Shariah and the Islamic Emirate,” he declared.
Defense analysts believe that this public statement significantly bolsters Pakistan’s internal security narrative and reinforces its diplomatic position on the global stage. Experts view the Afghan Taliban’s stance as a clear message to groups attempting to exploit religious sentiments for cross-border violence, particularly those allegedly supported by Indian proxies.
“The so-called jihad of ‘Fitnatul Khawarij,’ orchestrated on the behest of foreign intelligence such as RAW, is nothing but terrorism against Shariah, the Afghan state, and regional peace,” noted senior security analysts.
This rare and direct denunciation from within the Afghan Taliban ranks could play a pivotal role in undermining extremist justifications for terrorism, curbing cross-border militancy, and supporting broader efforts for regional stability.
