It’s hard to believe, but some of the very places where British forces once trained and operated in Afghanistan are now being repurposed by the Taliban for something far more ominous.
One such site, a former SAS base tucked away in Logar Province, has transformed into the testing ground for a growing fleet of deadly drones designed to reach far beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
This development has caught the attention of Western intelligence agencies, raising serious concerns about the Taliban’s expanding military capabilities just over three years after they retook control of the country.
From British Military Hub to Taliban Drone Factory
During the UK’s two-decade-long mission in Afghanistan, bases like Camp Phoenix near Kabul were bustling hubs of activity.
Camp Phoenix wasn’t just a military center; it had amenities like a cinema, library, and even a British-style pub, making it a home away from home for troops.
Now, the Taliban has taken over this very base and turned it into a secret drone manufacturing site.
Alongside the SAS base in Logar, these locations serve as the cradle for the so-called “kamikaze” drones—unmanned warplanes that explode on impact with their targets.
Intelligence reports suggest these drones have already been tested in attacks close to the Pakistan border.
International Expertise Fuelling the Drone Programme
What’s particularly alarming is the Taliban’s recruitment of foreign specialists to help build these drones.
Among them is an engineer reportedly connected to Al Qaeda, the terrorist network behind the 9/11 attacks.
Some of these experts have even studied abroad, including in the UK.
Taliban drone engineers, many of whom were trained during the time Kabul University was active under Western influence, are pushing to increase the drones’ flight range and payload capacities.
They are reverse-engineering models like the American MQ9 Reaper and Iran’s Shahed 136 — drones already used in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East.
A Growing Threat with Regional Impact
The MQ9 Reaper, known as a “hunter-killer” drone, can fly up to 24,000 feet, travel fast, and carry bombs weighing several hundred pounds.
Meanwhile, the Shahed 136 is a low-flying kamikaze drone that’s cheap to build but highly destructive over long distances—capabilities the Taliban aims to match or exceed.
Intelligence indicates the Taliban is experimenting with different explosive payloads, detonation methods, and launch techniques.
They’re also drawing on expertise from countries like Turkey, China, Russia, Belarus, and Bangladesh, sourcing components and receiving technical guidance.
Inside the Taliban’s Secretive Drone Development
A Russian expert has reportedly been spotted working closely with the Taliban engineers, even accompanying them on visits abroad to study drone technology.
This international cooperation is turning what was once a relatively rudimentary militant force into a more technologically sophisticated threat.
The growing drone programme has even been demonstrated publicly in Afghanistan to potential local partners, signaling that the Taliban sees these weapons as central to their military future.
The Human Side of the Story: An Afghan Technician on the Run
Amidst these developments, a troubling human story has emerged.
An Afghan drone technician who worked with British intelligence (MI6) to spy on the Taliban has been forced into hiding after the UK refused him asylum.
This technician, once invaluable to Western operations for intercepting Taliban communications and flying drones alongside British agents, has been relentlessly pursued by the Taliban due to his expertise.
Despite applying for relocation to the UK, he has faced rejection twice and remains in hiding while appealing his case.
What This Means for Regional and Global Security
The Taliban’s growing drone arsenal represents a significant shift in the security landscape of South Asia and beyond.
The ability to strike cross-border targets with precision unmanned weapons could destabilize neighboring countries and complicate efforts to contain terrorism.
With skilled engineers, foreign backing, and access to sophisticated drone technology, the Taliban’s ambitions are more than just local—they pose a regional threat that Western intelligence agencies are watching closely.