In a move that has raised regional eyebrows, Iran has reportedly asked the Taliban government in Afghanistan to provide a “kill list” containing names of specific individuals deemed dangerous to Iranian national security. The request, according to sources familiar with the development, was made through formal intelligence channels during recent high-level discussions between Iranian and Taliban officials.
While neither government has officially confirmed the existence of such a list, multiple intelligence insiders and diplomatic observers claim that Tehran has requested information on members of extremist Sunni groups, anti-Iran dissidents, and operatives allegedly working with foreign intelligence services near the Iran-Afghanistan border.
A Shift from Hostility to Strategic Engagement
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Iran and Afghanistan have maintained a tense but increasingly pragmatic relationship. Once bitter enemies, both sides now share a need for stability along their 945-kilometer border. The alleged request for a “kill list” signals a deepening intelligence collaboration—particularly in tracking Sunni militant cells with ties to ISIS-K or other anti-Shia organizations operating in western Afghanistan.
Tehran has long accused regional and Western intelligence networks of using Afghan soil to destabilize the Iranian interior, especially in Sistan and Baluchestan province, where Iran has faced low-intensity insurgency and terror attacks. With U.S. forces no longer present in Afghanistan, Iran sees the Taliban as the de facto gatekeepers of regional security—and now, potentially, as silent partners in pre-emptive counterterrorism.
Who Might Be Targeted?
Analysts suggest the alleged list likely includes:
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Former ISIS-K fighters
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Separatist Baluch militants
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Sunni extremist ideologues with anti-Shia agendas
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Suspected U.S. or Israeli-linked informants operating from Afghan territory
Iranian officials have frequently warned that they would pursue terrorists “beyond the border” if threats were not neutralized by local authorities. The “kill list” request may be a step toward making good on that threat—either through Taliban-led detentions, extrajudicial killings, or Iranian drone strikes if cooperation fails.
Taliban’s Response Remains Unclear
So far, there has been no public statement from the Taliban leadership regarding the list. However, insiders suggest that Taliban intelligence chiefs are weighing the benefits of cooperation—particularly given Iran’s willingness to recognize and economically support the Taliban-led government.
Still, the Taliban are walking a diplomatic tightrope. Assisting Iran too overtly may anger Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who maintain influence over factions within the Taliban. Additionally, giving Iran access to Taliban-controlled intelligence could invite backlash from ethnic Pashtun and Deobandi groups that oppose Iranian-Shia influence in the region.
A Dangerous Precedent?
Human rights advocates have expressed concern over the legality and accountability of such covert coordination. If the Taliban were to share a list of individuals targeted for assassination without trial or extradition, it could set a dangerous precedent—legitimizing extra judicial killings across borders in the name of counterterrorism.
Some experts worry that such a deal could evolve into a regional hitman arrangement, where states outsource targeted assassinations with no oversight. Already, Iran has faced accusations of conducting cross-border operations in Iraq, Pakistan, and Syria.
Conclusion
The reported Iranian request for a kill list from the Taliban is a troubling sign of growing shadow diplomacy in a lawless post-war Afghanistan. If confirmed, it reflects a shift in the regional security landscape—where old enemies become temporary allies, and intelligence cooperation is no longer bound by conventional rules or legal frameworks.
Whether or not the Taliban will comply remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the war on terror has entered a darker, more covert chapter—without headlines, trials, or borders.
