Ministry of State Security (Afghanistan)

Ministry of State Security (Afghanistan) is the primary intelligence and security agency of the reinstated Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan following the Fall of Kabul (2021). It was established by the Taliban government in 2021, succeeding the previous National Directorate of Security of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The ministry is tasked with counter-espionage, internal security, and gathering intelligence, operating under the authority of the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan and the Cabinet of Afghanistan.

History

The ministry's formation was announced shortly after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani administration. It effectively replaced the National Directorate of Security, an agency that had been heavily supported by the Central Intelligence Agency and other members of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission. The creation of the ministry consolidated the Taliban's various intelligence and security wings, including elements from the Haqqani network and the former General Directorate of Intelligence (Afghanistan), into a single formal state institution. This reorganization marked a significant step in the Taliban's efforts to transition from an insurgency movement to a governing authority, following the Doha Agreement (2020) and the subsequent withdrawal of United States Armed Forces.

Organization and structure

The internal structure of the ministry is not fully publicly disclosed but is understood to be modeled on its predecessor and other regional intelligence services. It is believed to contain directorates handling internal security, foreign intelligence, counter-intelligence, and technical operations. The ministry maintains a significant presence in all Provinces of Afghanistan, with provincial offices reporting to the central headquarters in Kabul. Key operational and leadership roles are predominantly held by senior members of the Taliban and the Haqqani network, with many officials having previous experience in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001) or the insurgency against the International Security Assistance Force.

Functions and responsibilities

The ministry's core mandate is to ensure the internal security of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and protect it from perceived threats. Its functions include conducting surveillance, investigating political dissent, monitoring the activities of former government officials and Afghan National Security Forces personnel, and countering the operations of groups like the Islamic State – Khorasan Province. The agency is also responsible for border security, vetting procedures for government employment, and gathering intelligence on regional geopolitical developments. Its work is closely intertwined with the directives of the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and the Ministry of Interior Affairs (Afghanistan).

Leadership

The acting minister of state security is Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also serves as the Minister of Interior Affairs (Afghanistan). Sirajuddin Haqqani is the leader of the Haqqani network and a deputy leader of the Taliban, making him one of the most powerful figures in the current administration. His appointment underscores the significant influence of the Haqqani network within the new security apparatus. Other senior leadership positions are filled by trusted Taliban veterans, many of whom were part of the movement's Quetta Shura or military commissions during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

International relations and cooperation

The ministry's international engagements are limited and contentious due to the Taliban government's lack of widespread diplomatic recognition. It maintains reported intelligence liaisons with agencies from neighboring countries, including the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan and security services in Iran, China, and Russia. These relationships often focus on shared security concerns, such as border control and counter-terrorism, particularly regarding the threat from Islamic State – Khorasan Province. The ministry has no formal cooperation with Western intelligence agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency or MI6, which previously partnered extensively with the National Directorate of Security.

Category:Government ministries of Afghanistan Category:Intelligence agencies of Afghanistan Category:Taliban