The British newspaper The Telegraph, in an exclusive report, states that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, is no longer capable of maintaining internal unity within the group. Disputes that were previously hidden behind the scenes have now reached a point where they could internally dismantle the Taliban’s government.
According to the report, published on Sunday, February 16, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Yaqoob, and Abbas Stanikzai are among the officials who have turned against Hibatullah. These figures advocate for more flexible policies regarding women and increased engagement with the international community. The Telegraph wrote that Sirajuddin Haqqani, leveraging his extensive influence within the Taliban, could challenge Mullah Hibatullah.
The newspaper highlighted recent internal conflicts within the Taliban and cited Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesperson, who previously acknowledged leadership disputes in a Twitter Space discussion. Tarz Press has also extensively covered these internal power struggles within the Taliban.
The report further referenced Abbas Stanikzai’s criticisms of Hibatullah’s policies. Recently, Stanikzai strongly condemned Hibatullah’s restrictions on women, calling them “unjust and un-Islamic.” In a speech in Khost province, he stated: “We are oppressing 20 million people. There is no justification for this. During the time of the Prophet, the doors of knowledge were open to both men and women.”
Following these criticisms, Hibatullah reportedly ordered Stanikzai’s arrest, but he managed to escape to the United Arab Emirates before the order was carried out, claiming he had traveled for medical treatment for a COVID-like illness.
The Telegraph’s report also stated that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, traveled to Dubai and Riyadh in January and has not returned to Afghanistan since. Meanwhile, Mullah Yaqoob, the Minister of Defense and son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, has also expressed dissatisfaction with Hibatullah’s harsh policies against women and his concentration of power in Kandahar.
The newspaper also reported that Hibatullah has deployed forces at Kabul airport to prevent senior officials from leaving the country, signaling his growing distrust of his own leadership circle.
Amid this escalating internal crisis, reports have emerged suggesting that Hibatullah may begin purging internal opposition.
The Telegraph noted that in December, Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Minister of Refugees and a senior Haqqani Network leader, was killed in a suicide attack in Kabul. The newspaper claims that Khalil Haqqani secretly supported girls’ education, and his assassination may have been part of internal Taliban power struggles.
The newspaper also revealed that a 14-member Taliban delegation, which was set to travel to Qatar, was prevented from leaving at Kabul airport. This group, reportedly linked to the Haqqani Network, was supposed to attend the “Afghanistan Future Think Tank” conference, where they were expected to discuss women’s rights.
However, some Taliban officials who spoke with The Telegraph admitted that many of the group’s current policies are “solely focused on controlling women” and “lack any logical basis.”
The newspaper also cited residents in Kabul, stating that the Taliban have always tried to present themselves as a united front under one leader. But now, in Kabul, they see vehicles displaying images of Sirajuddin Haqqani and banners promoting the ‘Haqqani Network.’ This is a clear message: they no longer want to obey Kandahar.
This report comes amid the Taliban’s most significant internal rift since they returned to power in Kabul in 2021. At the same time, with the U.S. cutting financial aid and the economic crisis worsening, predictions about a potential collapse of the Taliban regime have gained momentum.
