ISLAMABAD: A fresh debate has emerged among social media commentators and regional observers following an interview published in The Diplomat, an international journal focusing on South Asian affairs, concerning the professional background and political affiliations of its interviewee.
In the interview, South Asian analyst and journalist Sudha Ramachandran introduced Ajmal Sohail as an intelligence analyst to discuss sensitive regional security issues, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), China’s role in the region, and the activities of ISIS-Khorasan (ISKP).
However, critics have pointed out that the piece omitted significant details regarding Mr Sohail’s political background. According to these observers, Ajmal Sohail is the founder of the Afghan Liberal Party and a supporter of Israel, a detail not disclosed in the interview. Critics further allege that the party serves as a front to recruit political figures and conduct influence operations within Afghanistan.
Sudha Ramachandran, the editor for The Diplomat in South Asia has interviewed Ajmal Sohail, and introduces him as an Intelligence Analyst to write about the ISI, China and ISKP.
But does not mention that Mr.Sohail is the founder of the Afghan Liberal Party, an Israeli front in… https://t.co/zWdpMEfJ7J— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) March 8, 2026
The controversy is heightened by reports of Mr Sohail’s past affiliations, including an interview he granted to the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policy (Mitvim). In that previous engagement, he discussed regional security and ISKP, leading some observers to question the transparency of his current positioning as an independent intelligence analyst.
Observers noted that when discussing high-stakes security and geopolitical dynamics, clarifying the background and potential affiliations of a source is essential for journalistic transparency. Critics argued that the failure to mention his political leadership and links to foreign-based institutes suggests a lack of depth in addressing regional dynamics or an attempt to push a specific agenda.
As of now, there has been no official response or clarification from The Diplomat or the editor, Sudha Ramachandran, regarding the concerns raised about the interviewee’s credentials.
Mitvim article recognises Ajmal Sohail as a strong Israel supporter, exposes The Diplomat’s fabricated interview
The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policy has already recognised the Afghan Liberal Party founder, Ajmal, in its interview in 2013, in which he admitted and wished that he had been a strong supporter of Israel.
