Mohammad Hatef Mukhtar, alias Hakaf, works for Taliban intelligence with a salary of several thousand dollars.

Documents obtained show that the Taliban’s intelligence department, by paying analysts and lobbyists more than 4 million Afghanis per month, is engaged in psychological warfare and defending its government.

These individuals, who operate under official Taliban titles, often present themselves as independent analysts, researchers, or commentators, allowing the regime’s narratives to appear more credible and less coherent.

This approach reflects a broader principle of intelligence work.
Information is often more convincing when it comes from an independent source than from an official government spokesperson. For an organization seeking international legitimacy, cultivating credible voices outside Afghanistan can be as valuable as controlling the message inside the country.

According to information obtained during this investigation, Dr. Hatef Mukhtar operates within the same structure; his role was not simply to disseminate favorable interpretations. The report suggests that his activities have expanded to include gathering intelligence, building relationships, and supporting the Taliban’s broader influence campaign in Europe.

On the surface, the Afghanistan International Strategic Studies Center (AISSC) presents itself as a research organization focused on Afghanistan and regional affairs.

Like many think tanks, it publishes analysis, engages with policymakers, and participates in debates about the future of the country.

Institutions like this play an important role in international affairs, providing expertise and creating opportunities for dialogue.

Researchers are expected to network, interview government officials, attend conferences, and interact with political figures from across the spectrum.

These activities are entirely legitimate. They also mirror many of the methods that intelligence services use to gather information and develop relationships. The information collected may not be classified, but when systematically collected, analyzed, and combined with reports from other sources, it can become valuable information.

According to documents reviewed during this investigation, Dr. Hatef Mukhtar used the Afghanistan International Center for Strategic Studies as more than a research platform.

The report shows that the information collected through his professional activities was provided to the General Intelligence Directorate of the I-Alban, where it was analyzed before sharing relevant parts with Directorate 015 in support of I-Alban’s broader media and influence operations.

The report describes a broader intelligence function:
collecting information, identifying influential individuals, understanding political and social networks, and providing insight that could support both intelligence and influence operations. In this role, the think tank became another way through which the Taliban intelligence service could extend its reach beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

But a relationship with an intelligence service is not measured solely by an organization’s claims. It is measured by access. Public statements can be carefully managed. Narratives can be shaped. Explaining access is more difficult.

Who meets with senior leaders? Who is admitted to private discussions? Who receives logistical support? These decisions often reveal the level of trust an organization places in an individual. According to information obtained during this research, Dr. Hatif Mukhtar traveled to Afghanistan in 2024 on a visit that included meetings with senior Taliban political, military, intelligence, and religious figures. The significance of the trip was not simply his return to Afghanistan, but the level of access he gained once he arrived.

Most interesting of all is the extensive and close connection of these individuals and circles affiliated with the Taliban intelligence with the Iranian embassy.

According to evidence, these individuals also receive 500 to 1200 US dollars per month from the Iranian Cultural Counselor's Office (Seyed Ruhollah Hosseini) in Kabul.

Report: Shahpour Nayebzadeh