Assassination of an Opposition Leader in Mashhad Demonstrates the Group’s Transnational Ambitions
By Seyed Ahmad Mousavi, journalist, Sadoi Afghoniston news agency
Iranian police have announced the arrest of the perpetrators of the assassination of the well-known Maruf Ghulami in Mashhad. Maruf Ghulami, head of the Council of Commanders in Western Afghanistan and a close associate of Ismail Khan, was targeted several days ago in a residential home.
According to some reliable sources, the attackers are affiliated with the Taliban. Previous threats from Taliban leaders against political opponents increase the likelihood of this claim. The physical elimination of opponents outside Afghanistan has precedent. For example, last year the Taliban attempted to abduct Qari Isa Mohammadi at Mashhad airport, but the operation failed. By carrying out this assassination in Iran’s second-largest city, the Taliban are testing the country’s security situation and evaluating the consequences of such actions to plan their next moves.
Three key points stand out:
1 - Some Taliban leaders, including Nida Mohammad Nadim, the Minister of Higher Education of the Taliban administration, have repeatedly threatened that they would target opponents anywhere in the world. The assassination of Maruf Ghulami in Mashhad demonstrates that Taliban terrorist activities extend beyond Afghanistan. This indicates that the group follows a policy similar to that used by Israel to eliminate opponents globally. The Taliban’s similarity to Israel has progressed from ideological resemblance to transnational criminal acts. Both the Taliban and Israel base their survival on creating instability around themselves. Transnational assassinations by an organization facing a legitimacy crisis can deepen regional crises.
2 - Although Maruf Ghulami had considerable influence in southern and western regions, compared to other opposition leaders residing in Iran, he was not considered a key figure. Nevertheless, this Taliban action constitutes a clear humiliation for Iran, which, over the past four years, has pursued a cautious policy toward the movement and has not allowed Taliban opponents to operate actively.
3 - The murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey demonstrated how a country that values its authority and sovereignty can use a crime committed on its soil to exert international pressure.
The Taliban’s killing of an opponent on Iranian territory is a direct violation of the country’s security. Ignoring such an act will inevitably embolden the Taliban to repeat similar crimes, creating a serious threat to Iran’s national security.
At the same time, the Iranian police's efficiency in apprehending the perpetrators deserves high praise. However, it is expected that the competent authorities will thoroughly clarify the details of the case and take appropriate measures against the perpetrators and possible organizers to send a clear signal defending national security and territorial integrity.
