Following Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, has now joined the ranks of critics of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, strongly criticizing his policies, which he claims are harming the country.
During a speech at a religious seminary, Muttaqi carefully referenced the recent internal disputes within the Taliban without explicitly mentioning Mullah Hibatullah. However, he subtly criticized the centralization of power in the leader’s hands.
His remarks come shortly after Abbas Stanikzai openly criticized Mullah Hibatullah, forcing him to leave Afghanistan. Referring to the growing tensions, Muttaqi stated:
“No one should be upset with you. Why should someone flee? If they are one of your own, why should they leave?”
Muttaqi further questioned the marginalization of experienced members within the Taliban’s ranks, saying:
“Why should someone with experience and knowledge of governance be sidelined? You should consider them as one of your own and utilize their expertise.”
Muttaqi’s remarks directly challenge the leadership of Mullah Hibatullah, aligning with Abbas Stanikzai’s previous criticism that the Taliban’s current policies are detrimental to the country and that “the Taliban cannot destroy the country for the sake of one man.”
Recently, a growing number of senior Taliban officials have publicly voiced their dissatisfaction with Mullah Hibatullah’s decisions. This increasing internal dissent signals significant tensions within the Taliban leadership, which could impact the group’s political future and internal cohesion, potentially creating new challenges for its leadership.
