While not a Taliban official or member, Khostay is close enough for the Westerners eager to be noticed by a group whose homophobia, misogyny, and antisemitism they appreciate.

For better or worse, it’s also established Khostay as a pundit and unofficial Taliban intermediary for more mainstream Westerners ignorant of the group and in search of a convenient, social media-accessible interlocutor who can offer them an explanation of Afghanistan’s new government.

According to Khostay, his 35,000 Twitter followers—which include a devoted audience of far-right troll accounts and 4Chan celebrities—have flooded his inbox with “soo many” direct messages professing an interest, real or ironic, in visiting Afghanistan.