Taliban official Habibullah Badar has reportedly spoken publicly for the first time about his role during the group’s war against the former Afghan government, revealing that he was responsible for overseeing the operations of Taliban suicide attackers in Kabul.
In an interview with the BBC, Badar described his involvement in planning and coordinating operations in the Afghan capital. He said his previous activities in Kabul had given him detailed knowledge of the city’s roads and alleys, which he used in connection with the Taliban’s wartime operations.
Badar also indicated that some of the operations were not planned immediately but involved long-term preparation. His comments provide an account from within the Taliban leadership of how attacks in Kabul were reportedly organized during the conflict.
The disclosure is significant because Kabul was the scene of numerous deadly attacks during Afghanistan’s war, many of which targeted security forces, government institutions and civilian areas. Suicide attacks were among the most destructive tactics used by militant groups during the conflict.
Badar’s remarks offer further insight into the Taliban’s operational structure during the war period and the role played by individuals involved in planning attacks in the capital.
The comments have also drawn attention because they come from a Taliban official who is now part of the governing structure following the group’s return to power in August 2021.