In a major counter-terrorism success, the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) eliminated a senior National Resistance Front (NRF) commander, Zaidullah, during a high-stakes intelligence-led operation in the Shuhada district of Badakhshan late last night. The slain commander was reportedly spearheading efforts to forge an operational alliance between the NRF and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
According to GDI sources, Zaidullah had recently been appointed by NRF leadership to establish coordination channels with ISKP, marking a dangerous convergence of two hostile groups. Intelligence reports indicated that he had resumed contact with Sibghatullah, a Pakistan-based ISKP commander tasked with liaising between the two entities. The duo was allegedly preparing to launch coordinated terror attacks targeting Badakhshan province.
“Zaidullah’s return to Badakhshan set off a red alert. Our operatives moved swiftly on confirmed intelligence to prevent a potential wave of violence,” said a senior GDI official, adding that another NRF militant was captured alive during the operation and is currently under interrogation.
Zaidullah had previously escaped a joint IEA forces operation in mid-2023 that dismantled his group in the same district. He had been in hiding since then, as the IEA intensified its anti-insurgency operations across Badakhshan, disrupting NRF strongholds and pushing militants into remote pockets.
The GDI described the operation as a “preemptive strike” that neutralized a high-value target before he could execute plans aimed at destabilizing the region. Officials emphasized that any collusion between anti-state groups and global terror outfits like ISKP represents a red line for the IEA’s security apparatus.
The successful raid underscores the IEA’s continued resolve to dismantle terrorist networks operating within its borders. “There will be no sanctuary for those who conspire to bring violence to our soil,” the GDI official affirmed.
This latest development marks a significant blow to the NRF’s regional operations and highlights the GDI’s growing capabilities in identifying, tracking, and neutralizing threats in some of Afghanistan’s most volatile regions.
