Leaked order shows Taliban banning Afghans from fighting in foreign conflicts

Official document outlining five key resolutions issued by a recent gathering of senior Taliban religious scholars and leaders. The rulings come at a critical juncture of regional tensions and appear designed to formalize and publicly communicate the Taliban’s stance on cross-border militant activity.

The most prominent resolution explicitly states that “no Afghan is permitted to travel to other countries for military or combat activities,” and mandates the government to prevent any such attempts. According to the document, the Taliban’s supreme leader has not granted permission for such travel, labeling any violation a “sin,” and grants the government full authority to act against offenders.

A second resolution reaffirms the Taliban’s longstanding commitment not to allow Afghan territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks against any other state, emphasizing that “everyone must adhere to this obligation.” Analysts note that this broad wording could apply not only to Afghan nationals but to any individual or group operating from within the country.

Further resolutions stress the duty to defend Afghanistan against any external attack and underscore the continued, formal role of religious scholars in providing guidance on matters of national policy. During the meeting, scholars also called for “positive and constructive relations” among Islamic nations, urged the avoidance of intra-Muslim disputes, and emphasized using religious platforms to promote these messages.

Context of Regional Tensions:

The high-level meeting occurred against a backdrop of severely strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Tensions escalated sharply in late 2023, leading to unprecedented cross-border clashes that resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led government of harboring members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allowing them to use Afghan soil to plan attacks—a charge Afghan authorities consistently deny.

In recent years, Pakistan has conducted several military strikes inside Afghan territory near the border, asserting they targeted TTP sanctuaries. Kabul has condemned these as violations of sovereignty, stating the victims were often Pakistani refugees residing in Afghanistan. Last year, the Taliban announced a plan to relocate these refugees away from the frontier—a measure Islamabad deemed insufficient.

Taliban Official’s Explanation:

A senior Taliban official, speaking to Al Arabiya on condition of anonymity, clarified that the council’s decisions were “not a direct response to tensions with Pakistan or specifically about the TTP.” Instead, he framed them as a “consensus by scholars, under the order of the leader, to permanently prohibit Afghans from fighting outside Afghanistan, whether in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world.”

The official noted that these religious rulings “come at a very important moment” and could be interpreted by neighboring states as a significant signal of the Taliban’s intent to curb transnational militant activity originating from its territory.

Observers’ Analysis:

Regional observers interpret the document as a deliberate attempt by the Taliban to reassure the international community and neighboring countries of its commitment to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a base for external conflicts. By grounding the prohibitions in religious decree, the leadership aims to add ideological weight and enforceability to its political assurances. However, many analysts caution that the critical test will be in its implementation and whether it leads to tangible action against groups like the TTP, which has deep ideological and ethnic ties to the Afghan Taliban. The move is seen as part of the administration’s ongoing effort to balance its hardline ideology with the practical demands of governance and regional diplomacy.

 

 

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