Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have been circulating unverified claims alleging that the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Stanekzai, fled Afghanistan due to threats of arrest and a travel ban. These accounts suggest that Stanekzai opposed the Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada’s ban on girls’ education and is now in India, en route to Dubai on a trip sponsored by RAW. However, these claims are baseless and fabricated.
Making a post on X (Formerly Twitter), propaganda account @TacticalTribun wrote, “Taliban’s Dept Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai has fled Afghanistan under the threat of arrest & travel ban. He opposed the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan. Stanekzai is reportedly in India and proceeding to Dubai for a RAW-sponsored trip.”
Another account, @ConflictWatchX, also made a post and wrote, “Taliban’s Dept Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai has fled Afghanistan under the threat of arrest & travel ban. He opposed the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan. Stanekzai is reportedly in India and proceeding to Dubai for a RAW-sponsored trip.”
#Taliban in Trouble:
— Conflict Watch (@ConflictWatchX) February 2, 2025
Taliban's Dept Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai has fled Afghanistan under the threat of arrest & travel ban.
He opposed the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan.
Stanekzai is reportedly in India and proceeding to… pic.twitter.com/tJNfKvBMa4
The truth behind the claims, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the claims made by propagandists came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis regarding the claims. We found that these claims about India’s involvement were false and fabricated.
To verify the claims made by propagandists. We performed relevant keyword searches and found a media report regarding Abbas Stanekzai. According to the media report, Stanekzai did travel from Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates. There is no credible evidence or verified information to support the claims that Stanekzai was in India or that his trip was sponsored by RAW.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the claims made by propagandists were false and fabricated.
2917
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) February 3, 2025
ANALYSIS: Unsubstantiated
FACT: Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have been circulating unverified claims alleging that Taliban's Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Stanekzai, fled Afghanistan due to threats of arrest and a travel ban. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/YM4MWlTZaC
Intent
Propaganda accounts are circulating self-invented claims about the Taliban’s Dept Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai to set their narrative against India and Afghanistan.
Conclusion
Claim– The Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Stanekzai, fled Afghanistan and is currently living in India. He is en route to Dubai on a trip sponsored by RAW.
Fact – There is no credible evidence or verified information to support the claims that Stanekzai was in India or that his trip was sponsored by RAW.
Related Article: Taliban Threatened to Face Consequences? : Fact
