Unconfirmed security reports and regional media outlets indicate that former Pakistani federal minister and prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed is currently residing in eastern Afghanistan under the protection of de facto Taliban authorities.
According to reports citing local sources in Paktika province, Saeed is allegedly residing in Sharan, the provincial capital, under the hospitality and protection of Abdul Khalique Akhund, a senior figure within the de facto administration’s local apparatus.
The claims emerge amid heightened political friction between Islamabad and the provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senior federal officials in Islamabad have publicly alleged that Saeed had fled across the border following ongoing legal crackdowns against opposition figures and was attempting to influence regional political dynamics from abroad.
Neither Murad Saeed nor official spokespersons for the de facto administration in Kabul have issued formal statements confirming or denying his presence in Paktika. However, Pakistani security analysts note that if verified, the presence of prominent opposition figures seeking sanctuary across the Durand Line will further strain sensitive bilateral relations and complicate counter-terrorism coordination between Islamabad and Kabul.