Iran seeks list from Afghan Taliban to hunt down MI6 spies

(AI generated photograph: Chatly) 

In the heart of Tehran, the leaders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have made a chilling request to the Taliban: access to a leaked list of nearly 25,000 Afghans who aided British forces during the war in Afghanistan.

This list, often referred to as a
“kill list,” includes names of soldiers, intelligence assets, and special forces personnel who applied for asylum after the tumultuous withdrawal of Western troops.

As reported by the Daily Telegraph, the Iranian regime sees this as an opportunity to hunt down MI6 spies while simultaneously seeking leverage in upcoming nuclear negotiations with the West. The implications of this request extend far beyond diplomatic maneuvering, casting a long shadow over the lives of those named in the document.

The list, which was inadvertently leaked in February 2022 due to a clerical error by a Royal Marine, has become a double-edged sword. It contains sensitive information, including the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of Afghan allies who risked everything to support British operations. 

Many of these individuals have since fled to Iran, seeking refuge from the very regime now hunting them. In a startling development, reports indicate that at least one Afghan on the list was recently deported from Iran back to Kabul, where his fate remains uncertain.

As the Iranian government intensifies its search for these individuals, a senior Iranian official confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has formally requested the Taliban to share the leaked names. 

The urgency is palpable; the Iranian authorities are particularly focused on those who served as intelligence operatives, hoping to use them as bargaining chips in future negotiations. “There is an urgency to find as many of them as possible before the snapback deadlines arrive,” the official stated, referring to the looming threat of renewed international sanctions if negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program falter.

Meanwhile, in Kabul, the atmosphere is suffused with fear. One Afghan, whose name appeared on the list, recounted his harrowing experience after being detained in Iran. “They arrested me on the street, handcuffed me, and sent me to a deportation camp,” he shared, his voice trembling with anxiety. 

His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as he was sent back to a country where he felt his life was in imminent danger. 

'They can come and kill me any moment,' he lamented, underscoring the precarious situation faced by many Afghans who had once stood alongside British forces.

Despite assurances from the UK government about the safety of its personnel, the reality for these Afghans is grim. Many feel abandoned by the very country they served, expressing bitterness that their sacrifices have been overlooked. “I hope the Brits are happy,” one former soldier expressed, “they took cooks and masseurs to Britain, but those who lost their eyes serving British forces are left behind.” 

This sentiment resonates deeply, echoing the frustrations of numerous Afghans who once believed in a future of safety and opportunity.

The geopolitical landscape surrounding this crisis is complex. As Iran seeks to leverage its position against the backdrop of nuclear negotiations, the Taliban appears equally willing to weaponize the list against Britain, using it as a tool of diplomatic pressure. Officials in Kabul have ordered the arrest of individuals named in the document, signaling a troubling collaboration between two regimes that once stood starkly opposed to one another.

Amidst the chaos, the plight of the Afghans remains a tragic tale of betrayal and desperation. Daily deportations have surged, with reports suggesting that Iranian authorities are using the guise of national security to justify widespread arrests. Those caught in this web of political maneuvering find themselves trapped, facing a future filled with uncertainty and fear.

As the world watches, the fate of the individuals on the leaked list hangs in the balance. Their stories are not just numbers on a spreadsheet but lives filled with hopes, dreams, and the haunting reality of betrayal. In a climate of shifting alliances and geopolitical games, the forgotten Afghans continue to seek safety, desperately clinging to the belief that their past sacrifices will not be in vain.