By Mustafa Sarwar and Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 13, 2025 The Taliban has for years presented a united front to the outside world and kept a tight lid on dissent within its ranks. But unprecedented displays of discord have laid bare the rifts in the secretive militant group and exposed an intensifying
8am: In recent months, the Taliban regime has intensified its crackdown on dissenting clerics. These clerics have protested against the monopolization of power by the Kandahari faction of the Taliban and have called for the formation of an “inclusive government” a demand that has been repeatedly voiced over the past three and a half years
Michael Hughes: According to realist theorist Hans Morgenthau, all politics is a struggle for power – a theory based on the darkest views of human nature; and one that is, unfortunately, applicable to the state of politics in most capitals worldwide. The power struggles do not only occur between reigning and opposition factions. Those who
Tolo News: “Embassies should have a single authority; either officials of the Islamic Emirate should operate them, or representatives of the former republic. I do not think that both governments and the Islamic Emirate will engage with the former republic’s representatives. Therefore, it is better for them to be handed over to the Islamic Emirate
Khaama: Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, told Voice of America on Tuesday, February 4, that several members of the High Council of Resistance, including himself, met with a delegation sent by the Global Peace Operations Initiative. According to him, the American delegation visited them around two days ago to discuss
Afghanistan International: Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, has responded to reports of meetings between Pakistani intelligence officials and Afghan political leaders in Türkiye, warning them against becoming pawns of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Khalilzad stated that Pakistan’s security apparatus is likely attempting to use these leaders as leverage in negotiations with
Afghanistan International: Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, has urged officials within the group not to follow their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, in a manner that accords him a “prophetic or divine status.” In a newly released audio recording, Stanekzai called on Taliban members to refrain from “worshipping” their leader. The exact
Afghanistan International: Khalid Pashtoon, spokesperson for the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has denied reports of a meeting between the council’s leadership and a high-ranking delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency. Referring to the differing perspectives within Pakistan’s government and military, Pashtoon noted that while the Pakistani government opposes the Afghan Taliban, “Pakistani
Afghanistan International: Three reliable sources told Afghanistan International that they met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was supposed to be arrested and hence, left Kabul. Other sources had previously said that Stanekzai was supposed to be tried in a military court.
Khaama: Following the closure of the Afghanistan’s Embassy in Oslo, a reliable source in Norway has revealed that the host country has handed over the care of the embassy building to someone approved by the Taliban. Both Norwegian and Taliban officials have yet to comment officially on the handover of the Afghanistan’s Embassy building. Click