The IRGC Requests the Taliban for Names of Afghan Spies Known as the "Kill List"

This list was first revealed in 2022, and IRGC officials have stated they intend to use it to identify MI6 agents.

According to Euronews citing the British newspaper, the list contains approximately 25,000 Afghan citizens who collaborated with British forces. The Iranian authorities reportedly plan to use this as leverage in upcoming nuclear negotiations with the West.

The report states that the so-called "Kill List" also includes names and details of Afghan soldiers who worked with the British Army, intelligence agents, and special forces. It is said that some of these individuals fled to Iran after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the list reportedly includes the names of more than 100 British special forces personnel and members of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

A senior Iranian official, speaking to the Daily Telegraph, confirmed that the IRGC has formally requested the Taliban to hand over this list to Iran. It is said that Iran’s focus is on identifying intelligence sources of the British Secret Intelligence Service.

The senior Iranian official said:
"The Iranian side has also made efforts to obtain this list, and a special committee has been dedicated to the matter. Furthermore, talks have been held for cooperation between Tehran and Kabul in this regard. This collaboration could assist both countries in their negotiations with the West."

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Taliban leader in Kandahar has ordered officials in Kabul to detain as many individuals on the list as possible so the Taliban can use them as "diplomatic leverage" in talks with Britain.

How Did the "Kill List" Get into the Hands of the Taliban?

The "Kill List" is an Excel file containing names, phone numbers, and email addresses of Afghan soldiers, government employees, and family members of those who, after the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban takeover, applied for asylum in Britain under the "Afghan Resettlement Programme."

This list was leaked in 2022 due to the mistake of a British marine officer. Instead of sending only a part of the list, the officer sent the full file to Afghans residing in Britain. According to a Taliban official, they have had access to the list since 2022.

The Taliban official, in an interview with the Telegraph, said:
"The importance of this list became apparent after the news of its leak in Britain. The current order is to detain as many people on this list as possible to use them as diplomatic leverage in negotiations with Britain."

Bargaining Tool in Negotiations with the European Troika

The IRGC’s request to the Taliban for access to this list comes after Britain, France, and Germany threatened Iran that if nuclear talks are not concluded by the end of August, they would trigger the "snapback" mechanism to reinstate sanctions that had been lifted under the JCPOA agreement.

Despite Israeli and American attacks in June, Iran has declared it will not cease uranium enrichment.

Since these attacks, Iranian authorities have begun widespread deportations of Afghan migrants.

A senior Iranian official told the Telegraph:
"Iranian authorities intend to control the borders and detain Afghan nationals listed on this list residing in Iran. Their priority is Afghans who have cooperated with intelligence agencies."

He added:
"It is necessary to identify as many of these individuals as possible before the deadline for re-imposing sanctions so that they can be used as a bargaining tool behind the scenes."

The British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
"We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and always maintain necessary protective measures for staff in sensitive positions."

However, according to the Telegraph, at least one person on this list who had fled to Iran has been detained and deported.

This man, who was deported from Iran last Friday and is now in Afghanistan, said:
"There are many people like me who have been detained and deported. Britain is aware of all this. If it wanted to help, it would have done so by now."

Now in Kabul, he said he constantly changes his location out of fear for his life and added that his family is still in Iran.

He said:
"They can come after me at any moment and kill me. But nobody cares. Now, the responsibility for my life is on myself."