Afghan Politician Urges Taliban to Target Pakistan Army Chief with Suicide Bombers

Ramazan Bashardost, a prominent Afghan political figure and former member of the Wolesi Jirga, has sparked controversy by calling on the Taliban to deploy suicide bombers against Pakistan, specifically targeting Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff. He described the proposed attacks as retaliation for cross-border aggression by Pakistan.

Bashardost claimed that the Taliban’s suicide bombers possess far greater power than Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. He said the group could dispatch dozens of such fighters into Pakistani territory to assassinate high-ranking military officials.

“Mr. Munir does not live in the seventh heaven. The Taliban have fighters with faith, determination, and full readiness—forces whose power is a hundred times greater than a nuclear bomb,” he said. His comments come as the Taliban continue to refer to suicide attacks as a means of “conquering” Afghanistan.

Bashardost’s remarks glorifying suicide attacks as a deterrent come despite the fact that such operations have previously caused significant civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the group has made extensive efforts to project a more favorable image of suicide bombings.

The Taliban have consistently portrayed explosive and suicide operations as tools for combating internal and external adversaries. On special occasions, they unveil yellow barrels in cities as symbols of “suicide martyrdom.” These actions have sparked internal criticism and further eroded trust in regional security.