RASC News Agency: A senior Taliban official has stirred controversy by claiming the group is capable of assassinating individuals outside Afghanistan for as little as 500 Pakistani rupees. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for a jihadi Madrasa in Khost province on Sunday, Mohammad Nabi Omari, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Interior, mocked allegations from individuals in neighboring countries who asserted that the Taliban had placed bounties of $500,000 on their lives. Omari dismissed these claims as “absurd and laughable.” “If needed, the Taliban can eliminate its opponents beyond Afghanistan’s borders with just 500 Pakistani rupees,” Omari declared, emphasizing the group’s ability to act decisively and at minimal cost. He further stated that such operations are well within the group’s reach.
This statement echoes previous remarks by other Taliban officials, one of whom reportedly encouraged followers to use knives to assassinate opponents in foreign countries. These comments have heightened concerns about the Taliban’s transnational activities and their capacity for targeted violence. Omari’s comments are believed to be a veiled response to recent allegations by Mohsin Dawar, leader of Pakistan’s National Democratic Movement. Dawar accused the Taliban of offering a $500,000 bounty for his assassination. He called on advocates for Pashtun rights to take a firm stand against the Taliban as a critical step in their struggle.
While Omari refrained from naming Dawar directly, his remarks appeared to address the activist’s claims. “Certain individuals in neighboring countries have alleged that the Afghanistani Taliban has placed exorbitant bounties on their lives,” Omari noted. “But if we intended to act, we could accomplish this for a mere 500 Pakistani rupees.” The Taliban has faced growing criticism for allegedly targeting dissidents abroad. Such actions reflect a troubling escalation in their operations, raising fears about regional security and the group’s unchecked influence beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
