A photograph showing the top leadership of the banned Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group lounging at the luxury InterContinental Hotel in Kabul has provided undeniable proof of Pakistan's longstanding stance that anti-Pakistan militant groups operate from Afghan soil and enjoy premium sanctuary under the current Afghan Taliban regime.
Visual Evidence of Militant Sanctuary
The photograph captures senior commanders of the group, which operates in close coordination with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It depicts senior Gul Bahadur Group commander and head Abu Sufyan Karavan, Sadr Hayat (alias Abu Sufyan), alongside key figures Commander Jalali, Commander Rehbar Waziristani, and Commander Ghazi. They are shown standing casually by the outdoor swimming pool of the five-star Kabul hotel, appearing completely unbothered and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
Pakistan's Repeated Warnings Validated
For years, Islamabad has repeatedly presented evidence and demanded that the Afghan Taliban regime take strict action against cross-border terror hubs. Kabul has consistently denied providing sanctuary to these elements. This new photographic evidence completely dismantles those denials, laying bare the open luxury and official impunity granted to designated terrorists responsible for major attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
This visual confirmation heavily validates Pakistan's firm diplomatic and security stance, proving that the epicenter of the proxy war plaguing the region remains actively sheltered and comfortably housed in the heart of the Afghan capital.
UN Reports Highlight Terrorist Presence
The development also comes against the backdrop of successive reports by the United Nations Security Council Monitoring Team, which have highlighted the continued presence of more than 20 terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, with an estimated combined strength of 20,000 to 23,000 terrorists.
